Belarus is a country that has always grown a lot of potatoes — the climate and soil are perfect for them. Potatoes arrived in Belarus a few hundred years ago and quickly became the most important crop. People invented hundreds of ways to cook them, but draniki became the firm favourite.
To make draniki, you grate raw potato on the finest side of the grater until you have a wet, almost liquid mash. You squeeze out some of the water, add egg, salt, and sometimes a little onion or flour, then drop spoonfuls into hot oil. They sizzle and bubble, and within a few minutes each side turns a beautiful golden colour.
Draniki are almost always served with smetana — a thick, slightly tangy soured cream that is cool against the hot, crispy pancake. Some people also eat them with butter, mushroom sauce, or even meat. In restaurants, draniki come stacked in a big pile so you can help yourself.
In Belarus, draniki are eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. They are comfort food — the kind of dish that reminds people of home and family. Many Belarusians say that no matter where in the world they travel, they always miss draniki most.