The Ultimate Guide To Making Russian Pancakes

Pancakes in Russia are not just a part of the culture, they are truly everyone’s favorite dish – be it for dessert, a festive dinner, a snack or any meal in between; there is always a recipe that fits. The quintessence of the Russian love for pancakes culminates during the festival week of Maslenitsa, usually celebrated in February, symbolizing the end of winter and celebrating the sun. During Maslenitsa, you will find pancakes of all kinds with all possible fillings (and of course, the famous pancakes with caviar). We’ve selected some of the most popular fillings in the region just in case you feel experimental and want to try to cook your own pancakes at home.

How to cook Russian pancakes

500 ml (2 1/4 cup) milk
3 chicken eggs
200 grams flour
2 tablespoons of butter or oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Make sure all the ingredients are not frozen. Beat the eggs until little bubbles form. Add sugar and salt and mix well. Add a bit of milk and flour, keep on mixing and adding milk and flour until you get a homogeneous mass. Melt the butter and add it to the mixture. Warm up the pan until it’s burning hot. Pour the dough on pan in small portions so that it forms a thin even pancake. Fry on both sides.

Meat filling

350 grams boiled meat (pork or beef)
2 medium sized onions
salt and pepper to taste
butter for frying

Boil the meat and cut in small pieces. Cut onions in small pieces and fry in butter. Add meat to the onions in the pan. Add salt and pepper and fry for about 10 more minutes. Put the filling in pancakes, wrap and enjoy.

Chicken filling

500 grams chicken breast
2 tablespoons of sour cream
100 grams cheese
1 medium onion
1 clove of garlic (mashed)
salt and pepper to taste
butter for frying

Boil the chicken breast in salted water. Once it is cooked, cool it down and cut into small pieces. Dice the onion and pan fry, then mix in the chicken, add mashed garlic, sour cream and grated cheese. Add salt, pepper and mix thoroughly. Add the filling to the pancakes, wrap them and fry a few more seconds so that they keep their shape.

Egg filling

6 chicken eggs
green onion
salt and mayonnaise to taste

Boil eggs, then peal and cut in small pieces. Dice the onion. Mix the ingredients, add a bit of mayonnaise and salt. Put the filling on pancakes and wrap.

Cottage cheese with raisins filling

500 grams cottage cheese
2 tablespoons of sour cream
0.5 cup raisins
1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
butter

Mix the cottage cheese, egg yolk and sour cream. Thoroughly mix until it is a solid mass. Add sugar, vanilla and raisins. Mix once again. Cool it in the fridge for 1.5-2 hours. Meanwhile prepare the pancakes. Add the filling to the pancakes, wrap and fry them once again in butter for several seconds.

Mushrooms with Cheese Sauce Filling

500 grams champignon mushrooms
250 grams hard cheese
1 medium onion
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons sour cream
1.5 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste

Cut champignons and onion in small pieces and pan fry for about 10 mins until cooked. Mix in the flour. Add milk, sour cream, salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly and simmer for 10 minutes or until cooked. Add the filling to the pancakes and roll them. Put the rolled pancakes in a baking dish, add some grated cheese on top and bake for 15 minutes at 200° C (400° F).

Cabbage Filling

300 grams cabbage
2-3 small onions
3 chicken eggs
salt and pepper to taste
butter and olive or vegetable oil

Cut cabbage and onions in small pieces, fry cabbage in butter and onions with the oil separately. Boil eggs and dice. Mix all ingredients, add salt and pepper, fill the pancakes and wrap.

Chocolate Filling

100 grams dark chocolate
50 grams butter
1-2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
fresh fruit to taste

Melt down the chocolate and butter separately. Once done, slowly add butter into melted chocolate. Add powdered sugar and mix thoroughly. Pour the chocolate into the pancakes and add fresh or conserved fruits as you prefer. Wrap or roll the pancakes and enjoy!

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.