Ruchanki (Kashubian yeast pancakes)
Photo: Andrzej Otrębski · CC BY-SA 3.0

History

Ruchanki belong to the Kashubian Lakeland villages around Kartuzy and Kościerzyna, traditional country baking served at Sunday breakfast and harvest feasts. The Pomeranian capital absorbed them through 20th-century Kashubian migration into the Gdańsk shipyards. Restauracja Filharmonia is the most reliable city version, served warm with sweet cream, blueberry compote or local Kashubian honey. The recipe stays close to the village original: rich yeast dough, slow rise, fried on a heavy iron pan.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Egg, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 12Hands-on 25 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 400g plain flour
  • 10g instant dried yeast
  • 50g caster sugar
  • Pinch of fine salt
  • 300ml whole milk, warm
  • 2 large eggs, separated
  • 50g unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 large tart apples (Reinette or Bramley), peeled and diced 5mm
  • Neutral oil, for frying
  • Icing sugar, to dust
  • Stewed apple compote and sour cream, to serve

Method

  1. Combine the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
  2. Whisk in the warm milk, the egg yolks, melted butter and vanilla. The batter should be the texture of thick double cream.
  3. Cover and rest in a warm place for 60 to 90 minutes until visibly puffy and bubbling.
  4. Whip the egg whites to soft peaks. Fold them through the risen batter in two additions, then fold in the diced apple.
  5. Heat a heavy frying pan over medium heat. Brush with a thin film of oil.
  6. Drop heaped tablespoons of batter into the pan to make saucer-sized rounds. Cook 2 to 3 minutes a side until deep gold and risen.
  7. Stack the pancakes on a plate, dust heavily with icing sugar, and serve with stewed apple and a spoon of cold sour cream.

Tip from the editors. Tart cooking apples (not Pink Lady or Gala) give the right contrast to the sweet yeasted batter. The egg-white fold is what makes ruchanki lighter than racuchy; do not skip it.

Where to eat ruchanki (kashubian yeast pancakes)

Ruchanki (Kashubian yeast pancakes) in Gdańsk

Restauracja Filharmonia ★ 4.2

$$ Modern Polish

Restauracja Filharmonia is a modern polish room in Gdansk. Cross from Długie Pobrzeże; the dining-room view back to the Old Town is the trip.

Why locals goOn Ołowianka Island opposite the Old Town, reached by a footbridge most visitors skip; the most committed Kashubian kitchen in the centre.

TipCross from Długie Pobrzeże; the dining-room view back to the Old Town is the trip.

Directions

Witómë ★ 4.3

$$ Modern Polish

Witómë on Piwna behind St Mary's is Gdańsk's centrally-located Kashubian dining room plating the regional fish soup and a 07:30 breakfast counter.

Why locals goThe only centrally-located Kashubian dining room left, on Piwna behind St Mary's; visitors hunting regional fish soup walk past the Piwna door for the louder Długa rooms.

TipOrder the Kashubian fish soup; the breakfast counter opens 07:30 and is the calmest service.

Directions

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