Fluffy Ryazhenka Pancakes — Quick and Delicious

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   Measure out all the ingredients in the recipe. Take the ryazhenka (any fat content) out of the fridge ahead of time so it can come up to room temperature. Pour the amount you need into a suitably sized bowl.

2. Step 2:

   

   Add the baking soda to the ryazhenka and stir well. There's no need to slake the soda with vinegar here, since it reacts with the cultured dairy on its own. You can substitute baking powder (about 1.5 teaspoons).

3. Step 3:

   

   In a separate small bowl, combine the eggs with the sugar and salt. Whisk until the sugar and salt fully dissolve. You can use a heat-stable sweetener in place of sugar — check the package for how much to use.

4. Step 4:

   

   Pour the egg mixture into the bowl with the ryazhenka.

5. Step 5:

   

   Measure the flour and sift it to aerate it — this is what makes the pancakes fluffy. The exact amount may differ from the recipe depending on your flour, so sift a little extra just in case and add it as needed to reach the right consistency. The batter should be fairly thick.

6. Step 6:

   

   Add the flour to the liquid mixture in batches, stirring thoroughly. The batter should be smooth, uniform, and bubbly, dripping slowly off the spoon. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and set it in a warm spot for 15–20 minutes to let the flour develop its gluten.

7. Step 7:

   

   Pour a refined, high-smoke-point oil into the skillet and heat it well. To check if it's ready, dip in a wooden spatula — if bubbles gather around it, you can start frying. Spoon the batter into the pan with a tablespoon, forming round pancakes. Fry for about 2–3 minutes on the first side until golden. Add a spoonful of oil to the pan as needed between batches.

8. Step 8:

   

   Flip and cook for another 2 minutes or so. Don't crank the heat too high, or the pancakes will burn on the outside while staying raw in the middle. Transfer the finished pancakes to paper towels to blot off excess oil. Serve with sour cream, jam, runny honey, sweetened condensed milk, or syrup. Enjoy!