Polish pancakes are called Naleśniki
These Pancakes from Poland of their quite different and then American pancakes. In fact then I first saw them I did not know what they were. American flat cakes use baking soda. Polish pancakes are rather thin and flat without baking soda. If you know what a French crepe is then this is what a Polish pancake looks like, you could even call these European pancakes.
Other then being rather thin, there are a few more differences in style. For example, with Polish pancakes and instead of putting jam and jelly and syrup on top of them as we do in America, you actually wrap things like cheese or sweet gooey things inside. Therefore, beside the name pancakes or the basic shape of a round disk they do not have much in common with the Pancakes in the USA.
I personally it like farmers cheese in Polish pancakes, however, if Polish pancakes have jam in them and they are on the table a usually eat them.
Sweet Polish Pancakes
You can also use sour milk and pieces of apple.
Polish pancakes for dessert
In Poland maple syrup is not common. In fact, we actually have pine syrup here not maple and it certainly does not go on pancakes, it is more used as a medicine for people with colds.
What is our syrup replacement in Poland for pancakes, I would say honey. Honey and Poland is everywhere. I never knew there were so many different types of honey. Each with a different taste and a different property. If you want you can put honey on your Polish pancakes.
In restaurants people usually put powdered sugar or confectionery sugar on their polish pancakes.
Here is another interesting fact about Polish flat cakes, people in Poland usually eat them with their main meal in the afternoon, not for breakfast as an America.
Polish pancakes like sandwiches
Polish pancakes are actually very versatile. The inside can be cabbage, meat, yellow cheese, or anything you can imagine. They can function almost like tortilla. What Polish people do is they might put meat and cheese inside the pancakes and then fried with bread crumbs and eggs and it makes croissant.
With the meat version you can also have with mushrooms. These are often served with borscht. Basically these are European sandwiches which are great to have when you’re on the go.
Pancakes from Poland
In summary:
- Polish pancakes are a main meal food.
- Polish pancakes function as a dessert food or a sandwich type food.
If you’re looking for recipes with Polish pancakes be the sweet type or the sandwich type I will put some on my recipe site. If you subscribe via rss you will see these recipes eventually. I love cooking and live in Poland so this is a great chance to share with people Polish recipes.
However, I also I ask you to share, if you have any recipes you can share Polish pancakes or what ever please leave a comment as I would be very interested.
2 responses to Polish Pancakes
These type of Polish pancakes, I am familiar with were called “Nalesniki”. My mom used to fill them with sweetened farmer’s cheese, or fruit preserves. Here is my recipe:
suburbangrandma.com/recipes/fruit-filled-crepes/
My Godmother in Poland used the make different pancakes, called “Racuszki”, and here is that recipe:
suburbangrandma.com/recipes/pan-fried-apple-fritters-pancakes-ratscushki-recipe/
Stop by my blog for my pictures of these recipes.
I love these and have them often for breakfest. We use all kinds of jams like rose jam and wild berries that I do not find in the States to fill Nalesniki.
Leave a reply to Polish Pancakes