Naleśniki: Polish Pancakes (Crêpes) with Sweet Farmer's Cheese Filling

If you’re tiring of your usual weekend pancake routine, it might be time to try something new. Transport yourself to Poland for some sweet inspiration. These 'Naleśniki' are made from a thin, egg-rich batter. They're fried in a skillet to produce thin cake-like layers that can be rolled up or folded. Here, I'm suggesting a Sweet Cheese filling, but feel free to experiment. This recipe makes 10 crêpes (roughly 9in / 23-24 cm in diameter).

📝 Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup (150 g) all-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tbsp vanilla sugar or fine sugar; only if you're making a sweet filling
• 4/5 cup (200 ml) milk
• 2/5 (6.5 tbsp, 100 ml) water, can be carbonated
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp (25 g) butter
• 1/2 tsp neutral cooking oil, e.g. canola
• 1 lb (450 g) twaróg (farmer’s cheese); full fat, unsalted
• 2 tbsp powdered/icing sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla sugar; can substitute for fine sugar with few drops of vanilla extract

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Get a large bowl. Add flour, a pinch...: Get a large bowl. Add flour, a pinch of salt and vanilla sugar into it, combine with a fork.
2. 2Gradually pour in milk and water, stirring vigorously...: Gradually pour in milk and water, stirring vigorously with a whisk - to prevent lumps from forming. Add the eggs and mix again.
3. 3If you have 2 tablespoons of soft butter...: If you have 2 tablespoons of soft butter - add it as well. You can mix with a whisk by hand, or with an electric mixer. If there are some lumps anyway, you can pour the dough through a strainer.
4. 4Set the batter aside for 30 minutes, let...: Set the batter aside for 30 minutes, let it rest. (You can skip this step)
5. 5Preheat a non-stick frying pan (or even better...: Preheat a non-stick frying pan (or even better - a crêpe griddle) on a medium heat. Spread a drop of cooking oil with a silicon brush (paper towel works too).
6. 6Using a ladle, pour in just enough batter...: Using a ladle, pour in just enough batter to fully cover the surface of the pan. Move the pan around, let the batter spread - we’re trying to make our Nale?niki as thin as possible.
7. 7Fry until the bottom is browned (40-50 seconds)...: Fry until the bottom is browned (40-50 seconds) and the top of the pancake is no longer liquid. Turn over with a spatula and fry for a moment (20-30 seconds) until golden. Once done, remove from the pan and onto a plate.
8. 8Continue until you’re out of batter.
9. 9Serve on their own or fill them with...: Serve on their own or fill them with a filling of your choice (such as sweet farmer’s cheese filling - instructions below).
10. 10Move farmer’s cheese into a bowl, add powdered...: Move farmer’s cheese into a bowl, add powdered sugar and vanilla sugar.
11. 11Smash everything together with a fork. If your...: Smash everything together with a fork. If your cheese is very dry in texture (that’s especially the case if the cheese is made out of skimmed milk), feel free to add a spoonful or two (or more!) of cream.
12. 12Cover each crêpe with the filling. Fold intro...: Cover each crêpe with the filling. Fold intro triangles or roll.
13. 13You can serve Nale?niki as they are, or...: You can serve Nale?niki as they are, or alternatively - you can warm them up gently on a frying pan.
14. 14Sprinkle with powdered/icing sugar or drizzle with honey....: Sprinkle with powdered/icing sugar or drizzle with honey. Garnish with fresh fruit and sweetened cream.