Syrniki are traditional pancakes made from dry curd cottage cheese, eggs, and flour.
The Slavic root СЫР originally referred to cheese in a broad sense. While today it usually means yellow or hard cheese, in the past the word сыр was also used for cottage cheese or quark. This likely reflected the earlier methods of making such dairy products.
Cheesecake and cream cheese are not exactly typical cheeses either, which makes the historical connection even more interesting.
In Russian, related words include сы́воротка (whey) and сыро́й (raw, uncooked), both sharing the same root.
Over time, the terms for cheese and cottage cheese became more specific. In modern Russian, cottage cheese is тво́рог, which comes from the Old Slavic tvarogъ, meaning something that has been created or made from milk.
Syrniki can be pan-fried or baked in the oven. The batter can include raisins, chopped dried apricots, or fresh fruit like apples or pears. Since the main ingredient is cottage cheese, syrniki are naturally rich in protein and calcium and make for a satisfying and wholesome dish.
Want to try making them at home?
Here’s a simple syrniki recipe to get you started: RECIPE