Naleśniki

Naleśniki z serem (Polish Cheese Pancakes)

A classic Polish treat of thin crepe-like pancakes wrapped around a sweet, cinnamon-spiced quark cheese filling. Traditionally served warm with sour cream or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Prep

20 min

Cook

25 min

Total

45 min

Serves

8 pancakes (serves 4)

Difficulty

Easy

Recipe ingredients

• •250 ml (1 cup) whole milk
• •120 g (1 cup) all-purpose flour
• •2 large eggs
• •30 g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
• •1 tbsp granulated sugar, for the batter
• •1 pinch salt
• •500 g (1 lb 2 oz) twaróg (Polish quark), substitute with farmer cheese or ricotta that has been drained of excess liquid (see step)
• •2 large egg yolks
• •60 g (¼ cup) granulated sugar, for the filling
• •2 tsp ground cinnamon, plus extra for dusting
• •1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
• •120 ml (½ cup) sour cream, for serving
• •20 g (2 tbsp) powdered sugar, for dusting, optional

Steps

1. 1 Drain the ricotta: place it in a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth over a bowl and let it drain for 30 minutes, or squeeze gently to remove excess whey. The filling should be thick and spreadable, not wet.
2. 2 Make the batter: in a bowl, whisk the eggs with 1 tablespoon sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the flour gradually, whisking to avoid lumps, then slowly pour in the milk while whisking until you have a smooth, thin batter the consistency of heavy cream. Whisk in the melted butter. Let rest 15 minutes.
3. 3 Make the filling: mash the drained quark with the egg yolks, ¼ cup sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and vanilla (if using) until smooth. Set aside.
4. 4 Cook the pancakes: heat an 8-inch (20 cm) non-stick skillet over medium heat and brush lightly with butter. Pour in about 60 ml (¼ cup) batter, swirl to coat the pan thinly, and cook 1–2 minutes until the underside is lightly golden. Flip and cook another 30 seconds. Stack the finished pancakes on a plate.
5. 5 Assemble: place 2–3 heaping tablespoons of filling in a line across the center of each pancake. Fold the sides over the filling, then roll up from one end to form a neat parcel.
6. 6 Optional finish: lightly butter the skillet and sear the filled naleśniki seam-side down for 1 minute to set the shape, or serve as-is.
7. 7 Serve warm, topped with a spoonful of sour cream and a generous dusting of cinnamon-sugar or powdered sugar.