Draniki

Draniki is one of the most popular and famous dishes of the Belarusian cuisine.

Although there are many similar recipes for potato pancakes in various countries, Belarusian draniki is famous for its rich taste, national culinary secrets and the floury Belarusian potatoes – bulba – with their fluffy, dry texture that is perfect for making potato pancakes.

Floury Belarusian potatoes have great cooking qualities, which makes potato dishes particularly tasty.

Today Belarus is a not a world leader in potato growing, but the country is a leader in per capita production and consumption of potatoes. According to statistics, a Belarusian consumes over 180kg of potatoes per year.

Potatoes are the basis for many dishes in the Belarusian national cuisine; there are plenty of recipes. Traditional Belarusian dishes are now enhanced by new interesting products and sauces; they become healthier while remaining very tasty.

Belarusian Draniki

Recipes for grated potato pancakes similar to Belarusian draniki can be found in the German, Czech, Irish, Norwegian, American and Ukrainian cuisines.

But every country has its own cooking methods and uses local potatoes, which has an impact on the taste of the dish.

Draniki became very popular in Belarus in the 19th century. They were often eaten for breakfast as it is a very delicious and nourishing dish.

Hot potato pancakes were served with fresh homemade sour cream. This is the most popular serving for Belarusian draniki. They are also good with machanka (pork stew), butter, fried salo and onions.

In line with Belarusian national cooking traditions, draniki can be also stewed in ceramic pots with fried onions, carrots, mushrooms, homemade sausages and cream in a bake oven.

How to Cook Draniki?

Traditional Belarusian draniki is made of potatoes, onions, salt and oil. These ingredients are enough if you make draniki using delicious Belarusian potatoes rich in starch.

In traditional Belarusian recipes flour and eggs are not added to thicken the substance. If grated potatoes appear too liquid, Belarusian housewives drain excess potato juice and add some starch which sank to the bottom of the bowl together with potato juice.

However, you can use imagination and change the traditional draniki recipe by adding eggs, flour, spices.

Draniki Recipe

12 potatoes
1 onion
oil
salt

Peel, wash and grate potatoes and the onion (the onion will help you keep grated potatoes from turning brown). Use a grater with small holes. Add salt and mix until a smooth even consistency is obtained.

Heat the frying pan with vegetable oil. Put a full tablespoon of mixture from the bowl onto the frying pan and form a small pancake. Flip over once browned and crispy - about 2 to 3 minutes each side.

Serve hot with sour cream.

Draniki can also be served with soused cowberries, apple and sour cream sauce, onion and sour cream sauce, machanka. Draniki can be stewed in ceramic pots with meat, sausages, mushrooms…