The recipes for traditional Belarussian dishes you’ll cook.
In the beginning I want to say that my favourite Belarussian dish is draniki. Draniki is one
of the most popular and famous dishes of the Belarusian cuisine. Meanwhile, its recipe is very
simple.
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. Potatoes are the basis for many dishes in the Belarusian national
cuisine; there are plenty of recipes. Moreover, traditional Belarusian dishes are now enhanced
by new interesting products and sauces; they become healthier while remaining very tasty.
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.
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.
Traditional Belarusian draniki is made of potatoes, onions, salt and oil. These ingredients
are enough if you make draniki using delicious Belarusian potatoes. That’s the recipe. Firstly,
peel, wash and grate potatoes and the onion (the onion helps you keep grated potatoes from
turning brown). Then, use a grater with small holes. Add salt and mix until a smooth even
consistency is obtained. After that, heat the frying pan with vegetable oil. Then, 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…