Russian Pancakes "Oladi" - Cre8 at Home (2024)

This is yet another dish that brings me back to my childhood. My brother and I used to love our mom's Russian Pancakes "Oladi" when we were younger. Now I make them for my family and we enjoy them just as much! They are so easy to make too.

It's a great weekend breakfast. But, sometimes I also make the Oladi in the morning before work, cover them with tin foil or a large plate and my kids have them as a snack when they come home from school, a few hours before dinner.

The Ingredients:

• 2 cups kefir
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar, or granulated sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• oil to saute (I use vegetable oil)

What is Kefir and possible substitutions

Kefir is a fermented milk drink that's mostly made using cow's milk. It's a great source of probiotics.
Many people have a glass of kefir for breakfast instead of milk. Some add oats and berries or enjoy it with cereal.

This is the one I used in this recipe:

Possible Substitutions:

• Buttermilk
• Plain Yogurt: use 1.5 cups of plain yogurt thinned with 1/2 cup of milk
• Sour cream: use 1.5 cups of plain yogurt thinned with 1/2 cup of milk

How to prepare

1. In a large mixing bowl whisk together 2 cups of kefir, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons of vanilla sugar, a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
2. Add 1 cup of all-purpose flour, whisk with a fork, and add the remaining 1 cup of the flour and whisk until well combined.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a large skillet, over medium-high heat. Once heated, reduce to medium. Add a heaping tablespoon of the batter for each pancake. Keep space between each pancake scoop to ensure they don't stick together. There should be about 4 or 5 pancakes at a time.
4. Once each pancake has dried around the edges and small bubbles appear on the top of the batter, they are ready to be flipped. If you see that the pancakes are browning too fast, reduce the heat a little more.
5. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding a little oil in between batches. Serve warm.

Making ahead:

The pancakes can definitely be made ahead. You can prepare the batter the night before and then cook the pancakes in the morning.

If you are cooking the night before, then simply reheat the pancakes in the oven at about 350°F until cooked through (about 10 minutes in a pre-heated oven). Spread them out in an oven-safe dish so they cook evenly. Or, reheat the Oladi on a lightly greased skillet over medium heat, working in batches.

Ideally though, serve the Oladi fresh off the skillet!

Serving suggestions

Serve the Oladi with maple syrup, jam, peanut butter, guava syrup. Add fresh berries for some extra yumminess and nutrients.

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