Ukrainian Potato Pancakes, also known as Deruni, Deruny and Draniki, are crispy fried fritters that are typically served with sour cream.
Savoury potato pancakes are typically associated with Eastern European cuisines like Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Slovakia. In Russia they’re called Draniki and in Ukraine they’re called Deruny or Deruni.
This easy homemade Ukrainian Potato Pancakes recipe features a simple batter of shredded potatoes, onion, carrot, flour, egg and milk. The pancakes nicely brown and get crispy and crunchy when shallow fried in a skillet.
However you say it, Deruni, Draniki, or Deruny, serve these delicious potato pancakes with sour cream and sprinkle with sliced scallions for a simple breakfast, midday snack or side dish.
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What Is Deruni, Draniki and Deruny?
Wondering what the difference is between Deruni, Draniki and Deruny?
They’re all variations on the same classic Slavic recipe for Fried Potato Pancakes.
Although many Americans and Canadians associate Latke potato pancakes with the the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, they have more broad origins. They originated in the Eastern European countries of Germany Austria, Russia, and Poland as a peasant food. Potatoes were cheap, plentiful and easy to store, making them a staple and necessitating inventive potato recipes.
Some culinary historians believe Deruni originated in Belarus. The Ukrainian version of Deruny differs because in Belarus their potato pancakes are often stuffed with meat.
In Ukraine, potato pancakes are called Deruni or Deruny. The versatile vegetarian comfort food can be served for breakfast, or at lunch or dinner as an appetizer or side dish.
Draniki and its many variations throughout Eastern Europe are unique in that they are pancakes that are made of shredded potato (like Swiss Rosti) rather than mashed potato (like French Pommes Dauphine).
The beloved fried comfort food is best served with sour cream and sprinkle of herbs like dill, scallions or parsley.
Travel To Europe To Taste Deruni, Draniki & Deruny
I love traveling to Europe.
During my first visit to the continent I traveled for 5 months by train and plane. I had the opportunity to eat my way through Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey, France, Malta and Italy.
I spent a week traveling in Russia, tasting my way through Moscow and St Petersburg. I ate at traditional Russian Beer Halls, forked through a hearty plate of Beef Stroganoff at the famous Zoom Cafe and sampled savoury traditional Draniki at Cafe Mu Mu.
You can also taste authentic Deruni / Deruny in nearby Ukraine, Belarus, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.
In Toronto’s Ukrainian and Polish neighbourhood Roncesvalles Village you’ll find plenty of traditional restaurants serving Ukrainian Potato Pancakes. Plan your visit during the Roncesvalles Festival to enjoy a lively atmosphere featuring street side dining, traditional dance performances and live folk music.
My Family Loves Ukrainian Potato Pancakes
I love cooking recipes inspired by my travels for friends and family at home.
I first made this Deruni recipe on a warm summer morning at our family cottage in Muskoka and everyone loved them!
Growing up my mom and dad would often make sweet pancakes for weekend brunch. The year-round breakfast favourite can be enjoyed in a variety of ways but our favourite recipes include Rhubarb Strawberry Dutch Baby German Pancakes, Blueberry Mango Crepes, Banana Oat Flour Pancakes, and Chocolate Cherry Pancakes with Ricotta.
I knew my family would love Draniki and Deruni because they love crispy fried fritters, savoury potato dishes and anything slathered in rich sour cream.
We like to make these Ukrainian Potato Pancakes for breakfast as a replacement for hash browns, home fries or tater tots. They taste delicious alongside a fresh salad, baked beans, fried eggs and crispy bacon or breakfast sausages.
You can also serve them for lunch or dinner as an appetizer or side dish. Since they are starchy they pair nicely with a hearty stew or roast meat.
Ukrainian Potato Pancakes Health Benefits
Our authentic Deruni, Draniki, and Deruny recipe is packed full of wholesome ingredients!
Potatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Studies have linked potatoes to a variety of impressive health benefits, including improved blood sugar control, reduced heart disease risk and higher immunity.
Onions are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of onions can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
An excellent source of vitamin A and the phytochemical beta-carotene, carrots help keep your eyes and bones healthy, and may help protect against several types of cancer.
Consuming dairy products (such as milk and cheese) provides health benefits — especially improved bone health. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
Eggs contain two vital nutrients that are not present in many foods: iodine and vitamin D. Eggs are also rich in tissue-building protein and vitamin B12, which helps your body manufacture blood cells.
Packed with calcium and friendly probiotic bacteria, sour cream and yogurt help keep your bones strong and your gut healthy. Yogurt may also help reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes and some types of cancer.
Deruni Draniki Deruny Recipe Cooking Tips
This homemade Ukrainian Potato Pancakes recipe is quick and easy to make at home. We’ve included a few tips to get you started.
- We suggest using a large nonstick skillet to shallow fry Draniki.
- We’ve used whole milk in this recipe but you can substitute with buttermilk or non fat milk if you prefer.
- We suggest using Yukon Gold Potatoes (or another white or yellow potato variety) not Russet (baking potatoes).
- An essential step in making this recipe is squeezing out as much moisture from the shredded potatoes as possible. We usually toss them into the centre of a dish towel, wrap them into a ball and squeeze over the sink. You will be amazed at the amount of liquid that comes out! By removing as much of the moisture from the potatoes you ensure they brow and get crispy when cooked in hot oil.
- We’ve used a Spanish cooking onion in this recipe but you can substitute with shallots, white onion, sweet vidalia onion or the whites of scallions
- Classic Deruni recipes only include two vegetables: onion and potato. We like to add one grated carrot as at adds colour to the pancake and additional structure and nutrition to the fritter.
- We like to use canola oil when shallow frying or deep frying as it has a high smoking point and is flavourless.
- Serve 2-3 Deruny on each plate with a dollop of sour cream. Sprinkle with finely chopped scallions, dill or parsley. This adds additional flavour and colour to the dish.
What To Serve With Homemade Deruni Draniki & Deruny
There’s nothing more comforting than cozying to a plate of warm and crispy Ukrainian Potato Pancakes.
These savoury pancakes in Russia and Ukraine are typically served at breakfast as a simple meal or as a side dish or appetizer at lunch and dinner.
If you’re eating Deruni on their own for a snack serve with sour cream, chopped herbs and your favourite fermented vegetables like sauerkraut or pickles. You can substitute sour cream for Greek yogurt, runny cottage cheese, ricotta or mascarpone if you prefer.
If you’re preparing Deruny for lunch or dinner as a side dish it’s the perfect accompaniment to roast meat or a hearty stew. We also like serving them with pierogies, cabbage rolls and smoked sausages.
If you’re serving a Eastern European menu for a crowd you may like to serve Ukrainian Potato Pancakes with these popular regional recipes:
- Hovezi Gulas Traditional Czech Beef Goulash Stew
- Czech Dukatove Buchticky Yeast Buns With Vanilla Sauce
- Nudle S Makem Czech Poppy Seed Pasta Noodles
- Nakladany Hermelin Czech Marinated Camembert Cheese
- Breakfast Cabbage Fry With Egg & Polish Sausage
- Ogorkowa Zupa Creamy Polish Dill Pickle Soup
- Traditional Polish Sour Rye Zurek Soup
- Mizeria Creamy Polish Cucumber Salad
- How To Make Homemade Pierogies
- Romanian Soup Ciorba de Perisoare
- Lecho Hungarian Tomato Red Pepper Stew
- Pogacsa Hungarian Caraway Cheese Biscuits
- Csipetke Hungarian Pinched Noodles
- Korozott Hungarian Cottage Cheese Spread
- Paprikas Csirke Hungarian Chicken Paprikash
- Oladiki Oladushki Buttermilk Pancakes
What Is The Difference Between Potato Pancakes and Latke or Deruni?
Potato pancakes have a creamy, almost mashed-potato-like centre, with a thin, golden, crisp exterior. Latkes and Slavic-style Deruny, should have a deeply browned crust, with wispy, lacy edges.
Both Yiddish Latkes and Draniki are served with sour cream but the Jewish pancake is unique in that sweet apple sauce often accompanies the dish as well.
You May Also Enjoy These Potato Recipes…
- Masala Chips / French Fries
- French Mashed Potato Fritters
- Aloo Bharta Indian Style Mashed Potatoes
- Crispy Oven Roasted Cypriot Cyprus Potatoes
- Erdapfelsalat Viennese Warm Austrian Potato Salad
- Aguadito de Pollo Peruvian Chicken Soup
- Korean Breakfast Recipe Gochujang Baked Eggs & Potato
- Aloo Fry Vegetarian Indian Turmeric Potatoes
- Älplermagronen Cheesy Swiss Alpine Macaroni
- Culurgiones Sardinian Cheese & Potato Stuffed Pasta
- Kartoffelknödel German Potato Dumplings
- Tartiflette Reblochon
Best Type Of Potato To Make Deruni, Draniki or Deruny
The key to making the best Ukrainian Potato Pancakes is picking a potato with the perfect starch content so that it gets crispy when fried.
Yukon Gold potatoes as well as more generic white and yellow potatoes are the variety most often used to make French Fries. So the properties in these potato varieties are ideal for frying in oil to produce the desired crunchy and crispy texture.
Idaho potatoes and Russet potatoes have a very high starch content and are most commonly used to make baked potatoes. They are better used when roasting or baking, rather than frying in oil.
Potato Pancake Flavouring Options
The most basic Draniki pancake batter recipe features onion, potato, flour, milk and egg.
Once you’ve mastered the traditional recipe feel free to add additonal flavourings to suit your tastes.
- Carrot: we like to add grated carrot to give the pancakes additional colour and nutrition.
- Caramelized Onion: use butter fried onions instead of raw onion for additional flavour.
- Spices: salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder all add complexity to the dish.
- Herbs: chopped scallions, dill and parsley add a splash of colour and flavour to the pancakes.
- Meat: add finely chopped cooked bacon, chorizo or smoked turkey for protein.
Storing Leftover Ukrainian Potato Pancakes
Pancakes will deflate soon after being flipped off the griddle or skillet but leftovers can be enjoyed by reheating in a toaster or oven, air fryer or oven. Don’t microwave leftover Draniki as you’ll miss out on the desired crispy and crunchy texture.
Store leftover Deruny in an airtight container or resealable bag in the fridge for 2-3 days.
How To Make Traditional Deruni, Draniki and Deruny
Deruni, Draniki, Deruny Ukrainian Potato Pancakes
Equipment
- Food Processor or Grater
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 lb Yukon Gold Potatoes peeled
- 1 Medium Spanish Onion grated
- 1 Small Carrot peeled, grated
- 2/3 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1 Egg beaten
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- Salt and Pepper
- Vegetable Oil for frying
- Sour Cream garnish
- Chopped Scallions or Parsley garnish
Instructions
- Grate the potatoes coarsely by hand on a cheese grater or in a food processor. Squeeze the mixture in a clean linen kitchen towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
- In a bowl, combine the potatoes with the onion and carrot and stir well with a fork. Sprinkle on the flour and mix in. Add the milk, egg, baking powder, and salt and pepper, and mix thoroughly.
- Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Drop the potato mixture by tablespoonfuls into the oil and press gently with a spatula to flatten. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Transfer to drain on a paper towels. Keep the Deruni warm in a 200 F. Reat the process with the remaining mixture.
- Serve Ukrainian potato pancakes with sour cream and chopped parsley or scallions if desired.
Nutrition
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