Oladi, small pancake-shaped fritters typical of Eastern Europe, fried in vegetable oil or butter with a neutral taste that makes them suitable for both sweet and savory fillings. I imagine you’ve seen pancakes as the stars of breakfast in many American films and TV series. Well, these fritters made with kefir are typical of Eastern Europe and are very easy to prepare.
I saw the recipe in a magazine and it piqued my curiosity. What can I say, I fell in love with them! In fact, I confess they are even better than classic pancakes to me. Without yeast, but with baking soda, kefir, egg, flour, and a little sugar, these Ukrainian pancakes are quick to make.
After mixing all the ingredients, you’ll get a batter that should rest for fifteen minutes in the refrigerator. To portion them better, I used an ice cream scoop, but two spoons will work just fine to shape these fritters that are cooked in a pan. They are usually cooked with plenty of vegetable oil, but you can simply lightly oil the pan as I did and cook them like classic pancakes.
Thick, fluffy, and delicious, we enjoyed them with spreadable cream and jam, but also with maple syrup or ham if you prefer a savory breakfast. Now, apron on, and let’s head into the kitchen together, because the oladi will be ready in a click!
If you’re interested in other pancake recipes, also read:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very cheap
- Rest time: 15 Minutes
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 16 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Stove
- Cuisine: Ukrainian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 110.79 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 21.36 (g) of which sugars 4.84 (g)
- Proteins 4.16 (g)
- Fat 1.40 (g) of which saturated 0.42 (g)of which unsaturated 0.80 (g)
- Fibers 0.52 (g)
- Sodium 68.95 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 46 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 2 cups kefir
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- vegetable oil (as needed)
Tools
- Bowl
- Hand Whisk
- Pan
- Ice Cream Scoop
Steps
First, put the kefir and egg in a bowl and add the baking soda and sugar. Start mixing with a whisk and, once the ingredients are combined, gradually add the flour.
Continue to mix with the hand whisk until you have a smooth and lump-free mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
After the resting time, take the batter out and heat a non-stick pan lightly greased with vegetable oil. Take a bit of batter with the ice cream scoop and transfer it to the pan.
Cook for a couple of minutes over medium heat. As soon as small bubbles form on the surface, flip the fritter and continue cooking on the other side over low heat. During cooking, the fritters will puff up slightly, and to ensure they cook inside, continue cooking with a lid on.
Hungarian pancakes are ready to be enjoyed with spreadable creams or maple syrup.
Storage and Tips for Oladi
Hungarian fritters can be stored for 1 or 2 days in a cool, dry place.
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FAQ Questions and Answers for Oladi
Can I use oat flour?
Yes, you can replace all-purpose flour with oat flour or even rice flour.
