Stuffed Potato Pancakes with Pork - Classic Draniki Recipe
Traditional Eastern European potato pancakes filled with seasoned ground pork create a hearty, comforting meal. These crispy-edged draniki feature grated potatoes mixed with onion and egg, forming golden pancakes that encase savory meat patties. The contrast between the crispy exterior and tender filling makes them perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This version uses Yukon Gold potatoes for the best texture and incorporates sour cream into the batter for extra richness. Serve hot with additional sour cream for an authentic experience.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Grate peeled potatoes using star grater side of box grater and skim off excess liquid from top
- 2
Grate onion using same grater and reserve 1 tablespoon for meat mixture
- 3
Add egg, flour, sour cream, salt and pepper to potato mixture and stir to combine
- 4
Combine ground meat with salt, pepper and reserved grated onion, then divide into 16 thin patties
- 5
Heat oil in large non-stick pan over medium heat
- 6
Add potato mixture by tablespoons, flatten with spoon back, top with meat patty, then cover with more potato mixture
- 7
Saute 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through
- 8
Remove to paper towel lined plate and serve immediately
Tips
Use safety gloves when grating potatoes to protect your hands from the sharp grater edges.
Remove excess potato liquid to prevent soggy pancakes - about 1/3 cup should be skimmed off.
Make thin, even meat patties about 2 inches wide for best cooking results.
Good to Know
Refrigerate cooked pancakes up to 3 days. Reheat in skillet over medium heat until warmed through.
Grate potatoes and onion up to 2 hours ahead, but drain excess liquid just before cooking.
Serve immediately while hot with additional sour cream on the side.
Common Mistakes
Don't skip draining potato liquid or pancakes will be soggy
Keep heat at medium to avoid burning exterior before meat cooks through
Substitutions
Gluten-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I make these vegetarian?
Yes, replace the meat filling with sautéed mushrooms, cheese, or mashed potato seasoned with herbs for a vegetarian version.
What if my pancakes fall apart?
Add an extra tablespoon of flour to bind the mixture better, and make sure to press the layers together gently when assembling.
How long do leftovers keep?
Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat to restore crispiness rather than microwaving.