Deruny

Deruny are a popular and beloved dish of Ukrainian cuisine, ruddy pancakes fried from grated raw potato. Simple, hearty, and incredibly tasty, they have long become a true classic of the home table, especially in Polissia and the Zhytomyr region.

Deruny are made simply: raw potato is finely grated, a little flour, an egg, grated or chopped onion, salt, and pepper are added, and then it is spooned onto a heated oiled pan and fried on both sides to a golden, crisp crust. The secret of perfect deruny lies in the contrast: a crunchy fried crust outside and a tender, soft centre. They are served necessarily hot, most classically with sour cream, and also with cracklings, fried onion, mushroom sauce, or plain. There are heartier variations too — deruny with a meat filling inside (in Polissia they are sometimes called “kartoplianyky” or “sokirnyky”). This dish is known among many peoples under different names, yet in Ukraine deruny have a special, homely status as a beloved dish of childhood. It is simple, sincere, and warming food that embodies the hospitality of Ukrainian cuisine.