“Plince with Pomoćka” – potato cakes as a Warmian`s delicacy

Author: Anna Tyszka – thyssenkrupp Materials Poland

INGREDIENTS

Preparation time: about 20 minutes 
Frying time: about 30 minutes 
Number of servings: about 20-25 pancakes 
Calories kcal: about 70-80 in 1 pancake.

Ingredients for “plince”:

  • 1 kg of potatoes 

  • 1 large onion 

  • 1-2 eggs 

  • ½ cup flour 

  • spices: salt, pepper, cumin, dried marjoram – 1 flat teaspoon each  canola oil for frying.

 

Ingredients for “pomoćka”: 

  • 250 g of fat cottage cheese 

  • 3-4 tablespoons of 18% cream 

  • 1 small onion 

  • 2 cloves of garlic 

  • seasonings: salt, pepper to taste 

  • chopped small bunch of chives for decoration.

STORY

 I am a Warmian woman and I love Warmia with all of my heart. I think that it is the most beautiful region of our country – fields, forests, meadows, lakes, unique climate and delicious food. I remember from my childhood that my mother used to make my favorite dish – “Plince with pomoćka”. Nowadays I love preparing it so much for my family and friends. I am so glad to share with you the recipe and the history of these Warmian delicacy. 

Even if the name sounds mysterious, that Warmian specialty is very easy to prepare. “Plince with pomoćka” are simply potato pancakes served with a fluffy paste based on cottage cheese and cream, sometimes with slices of fried bacon or smoked meat. 

The cuisine of Warmia is a mixture of culinary traditions of representatives of many nations that have inhabited this extraordinary region for centuries. In Warmian dishes you can find Polish, German, Lithuanian or Ukrainian influence as a flour dishes, soups, potato dishes, smoked sausages, fish and cabbage. 

One of the most popular ingredient used in the cuisine of this region is potato, massively grown in Warmia from the eighteenth century. The local housewives used them to create various delicacies, from the simplest to very sophisticated dishes, hot and cold, salty and sweet. “Plince with pomoćka” were usually served as the main dinner dish. In the old days the housewives served them to their men working in the fields . Such a meal gave a solid injection of the energy and strength. 

“Plince with pomoćka” is not a dish which would be a cause of problems even for those with a little culinary experience. The key of success is to pay attention for a good quality products, mostly -potatoes. 

For our dish the best potatoes would be those, that are rich of starch. Their flesh is quite dry and falls apart easily. Of course, it is also important to have good quality cottage cheese – the base of “pomoćka”. The dish is best served with fatty cheese, rich with calcium and vitamin A and D. 

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash potatoes thoroughly and peel them together with the onion. 
2. Grate them on a fine-mesh grater. Do same with an onion and mix together. Squeeze out the excess water. Add 1-2 eggs (from the „happy” hens ) to your dough, then half of a glass of flour, flat teaspoon of salt, pepper, cumin and dried majoram.Mix the whole dough very thoroughly…
3. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan and pour in a generous amount of oil for frying.Put portions of the potato mixture with a large spoon. When pancakes become brown from the bottom – turn them to the other side. If they brown too quickly – reduce temperature. As a guideline, frying should not take more than 3 minutes on each side.
4. After frying, put the pancakes on a plate lined with a paper towel to let the paper absorb the excess fat. 
5. In the meantime of frying – prepare the “pomoćka”.Crush 250 g of fat cottage cheese with using a fork, add 3-4 tablespoons of 18% cream, grate small onion and squeez through a press 2 cloves of garlic. Add salt and pepper. Mix it and as finish décor – use bunch of chives. 
6. Put a spoonful of “Pomoćka” on the “Plince” and sprinkle with chives.Enjoy Your Meal!