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Meat Stuffed Crepes Crisped up in Butter

Two crepes filled with meat topped with sour cream on a decorative blue plate.Growing up in Ukraine, a looong time ago, I remember my mom making Nalisniki (that’s what Slavic folks call crepes) stuffed with meat. She had this pre-historic looking pan that she used only for crepes. Every time she used it, she would tell us how this is a special pan and it can not be scratched, otherwise the crepes will start sticking to it. I remember her taking a ladle with a cream-colored plastic handle, pour the batter right in the middle of the pan and then quickly swirl it around, coating the bottom with the batter. Then she would take the crepe out and place it into a tall stack. She made the crepes neither thick or thin. They were just the right thickness. Then she would lay out the crepes on a table, in an assembly-like fashion, where the crepes overlapped each other with only one half. Every time she did this, she would tell us that she learned this trick while working her first job at the dinner for military officers. Next, she would take the meat stuffing, put it a tablespoon on the exposed half of the crepe and start rolling them one by one. Once all the crepes were filled and rolled my mom would then take the skillet out again, put a dab of butter in the middle and brown the soft, stuffed pockets until golden and crisp. I and my sister would already sit at the table with a plate, fork, and a jar of thick but creamy sour cream that we bought at the market, in anticipation of a warm delicious crepe being transferred from the skillet right onto our plates. Oh, the memories!

This recipe might not be the same one she used when we were little, but every time I make them, I still remember my childhood and my moms Nalisniki. It almost feels like I am reliving the moment.
So I hope you give them a try and start making your own memories, maybe with your own kids, or maybe even grandkids.

This is the same recipe I shared a while ago on Facebook, but that time I talked about the cheese filling that pairs so wonderfully with these crepes, so today, I will tell you about a savory version of the stuffed crepes we Ukrainians call – Nalisniki.

More Crepe recipes to try:

Meat Stuffed Crepes Crisped up in Butter

4.5 from 2 votes

Homemade crepes filled with meat filling. A classic Russian/Ukrainian recipe. 

Author: Marina | Let the Baking Begin
Course: Breakfast, Side Dish
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: crepes, meat crepes
Calories: 370 kcal
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients

For Crepes/Nalisniki

Meat Filling

Instructions

  1. In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together 10 eggs, 4 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, and 3 cups flour until all flour is incorporated and the batter looks smooth, with no flour lumps, about 2 minutes.

  2. With the mixer still running on low speed, start adding 4 cups milk, stopping and scraping the bottom of the bowl, until full amount of milk is added. Once the batter looks smooth add 50 milliliters oil and mix for another minute or two. Cover the batter with plastic wrap and let rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes (it can easily stay in the fridge for a couple of hours if needed), letting the flour fully absorb the moisture. (Meanwhile, you can prepare the filling)

  3. Take the batter out of the fridge, quickly stir with a spoon for about 20 seconds.
  4. Put a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and let it heat up. With a ladle or a measuring cup, pour the batter in the middle of the skillet and quickly swirl the it around letting the batter completely cover the bottom. The skillet should be covered in a thin layer of batter. Depending on how much batter you put, you’ll end up with either thick or thin crepes. Take a stick of butter, uncover half of it, then take the butter, touching the covered part, and quickly run it around the inner side of the skillet. Cover with lid. Cook for about 30-40 seconds. It is done when there is no visible, runny batter on the top.
  5. Run a thin spatula around the crape, freeing it from the skillet. Quickly invert the crepe onto a round plate. If it doesn’t come off right away, just give it a couple of seconds.

To make meat filling:

  1. Boil the chicken liver in a pot with water until cooked, constantly skimming the top, about 5 minutes after the water comes to a boil.
  2. To cook chicken thighs, place the meat in a pot, cover with water and let cook until meat is tender.
  3. Pass the chicken thighs and liver though a grinder or food processor.
  4. Sautee the onion in a skillet with some oil until golden, then add the sautéed onions to the meat mixture.
  5. Add salt & pepper to taste. Add enough cream or broth to make the filling somewhat moist, but not runny.

Assembly:

  1. Turn the crepes browned side down, place a tablespoon of filling at the end closer to yourself and spread it out a little. Flip the left side towards the middle then the opposite. Now fold the crepe 2-3 times away from yourself.

To serve:

  1. Place a dab of butter in a skillet and heat it over medium-high heat. Place the crepes folded side down and brown on each side until golden and crisp.
  2. Serve right away with a spoon of sour cream that’s thinned out with some cream.
Nutrition Facts
Meat Stuffed Crepes Crisped up in Butter
Amount Per Serving (10 g)
Calories 370 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Cholesterol 265mg88%
Sodium 383mg17%
Potassium 335mg10%
Carbohydrates 40g13%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 19g38%
Vitamin A 2908IU58%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 146mg15%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Welcome to Let the Baking Begin! I'm Marina and my love and passion for eating only the most delicious foods drive me to share that love here on Let the Baking Begin (since 2009). With over 20 years of experience in the kitchen, you know the recipes are tested and retested until perfect. I'm so happy to have you here. Enjoy! Read more...

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  • Lisa

    My mother is from Latvia and is 89. Growing up with meat pancakes she calls them lol She makes it with ground beef and sauteed onions salt pepper. Going to try yours.

    · Reply
  • Alicia

    Marina, please, please, please teach me to make fresh sour cream (I can get fresh raw cream 🙂 ) like we ate when doing mission work in Zaporozhye! We can not buy good sour cream in the U.S. for love nor money. :/ The things I’ve tried have not worked.
    🙂

    · Reply
    • Hi Alicia! Sour cream is just cultured heavy cream. To culture it, you would you the same exact method as you would for making fresh farmers cheese, but you would not heat it after it becomes sour and just use it as you would sour cream.

      So basically take 1 qt of good cream (33% fat content or more) heat it to 110F, then add about 1/2 cup of buttermilk (Darigold, if you have this brand, is the best in my opinion) or kefir and stir it in really well (whatever you use to culture the cream, make sure it has live and active cultures, otherwise it will not work). Leave this concoction in the oven with just the light on (do not turn the heat on) overnight or for about 12 hours, at that point use a clean spoon (do not double dip) and taste it, if it’s sour enough for your taste, you’re good. If not, leave it for another couple of hours. I would not leave it in the oven for more than 16-18 hours or the cream might go bad with the wrong bacteria starting to grow.

      · Reply

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