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Mushroom zrazy
Kartoplyani zrazy: crisp potato cakes stuffed with mushrooms
Kartoplyani zrazy are a thrifty Ukrainian classic, made in kitchens across Chernihiv and the forested Polissia region where mushrooms are gathered every autumn: mashed potato is wrapped around a filling of fried mushrooms and onion, shaped into ovals, rolled in breadcrumbs and fried until crisp. They are a good home for yesterday's mash, and appear on the Lenten table and at casual family dinners with sour cream and pickles. Chef's tip: use cold mashed potato; common mistake is shaping the zrazy from warm, soft mash, which sticks to your hands and splits in the pan.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the potato dough
For the filling
To coat and fry
To serve
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Boil 2 ¼ lb floury potatoes in salted water over a medium heat for 18–20 minutes, until completely tender. Drain, steam dry for 2 minutes, then mash smoothly without milk or butter. Spread on a plate and let cool for at least 20 minutes.
20 minStep 2: Meanwhile melt ⅞ oz butter in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry 1 onion for 4 minutes, then add 10 ½ oz mushrooms and cook for 8–10 minutes, until all their liquid has evaporated and they are browned. Season with ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper, stir in 1 tbsp dill and cool.
14 minStep 3: Beat 1 egg, 3 tbsp plain flour and 1 tsp salt into the cold mash to make a soft dough that holds together. Divide into 8 portions.
Step 4: With floured hands, flatten a portion into a 10 cm round in your palm, put a spoonful of mushroom filling in the middle and close the potato over it, pinching to seal. Shape into an oval cake about 2 cm thick and roll in 2 ⅛ oz dried breadcrumbs.
Step 5: Heat 6 tbsp sunflower oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat until a crumb sizzles at once. Fry the zrazy for 4–5 minutes per side, turning carefully with a spatula, until deep golden and crisp all over.
10 minStep 6: Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot with 4 tbsp sour cream (smetana).
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 55 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mushroom zrazy take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of floury potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of egg?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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