Ukrainian Freeze-Dried Corn Deruny

In case you’re wondering how to put that … A Ukrainian twist! They combine freeze-dried corn and onion, but the recipe could also be made with yam. This is a fun recipe for Ukrainian-flavoured pancake, using the freeze-dried corn as a spin on the classic potato pancake.

Ingredients:

1 cup freeze-dried corn

2 large potatoes, peeled and grated

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Salt and pepper to taste

Vegetable oil for frying

Sour cream, for serving

Fresh dill, chopped for garnish

Preparation:

Step 1: Rehydrate the Corn

Infuse the thawed corn with warm water for 5 minutes, or until soft. You can soften the kernels in the fridge but make sure to drain thoroughly and remove as much water as possible There you have it – homemade and zero-waste vitamin C. Now it’s time to enjoy your rehydrated freeze-dried corn! You can put it on your meal or snack!

Step 2: Prepare the Potato Mixture

Then in a large bowl, grate the potatoes and chop the onion, and squeeze out the moisture from the grated potatoes with a clean tea towel or a wad of the paper towels, so as to avoid soggy deruny.

Step 3: Mix Ingredients

season with salt and pepper, then stir in the rehydrated corn and beaten egg. Add the flour and mix it in until the fritter batter is well-combined.

Step 4: Fry the Deruny

Meanwhile, heat a few tablespoons of vegetable oil in a medium frying pan over a medium heat. Once hot, spoon the corn mixture into the oil and flatten into pancakes using the back of the spoon. Fry until golden and crunchy on both sides, for about 3-4 minutes per side.

Step 5: Serve

Serve the deruny hot, liberally garnished with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of fresh dill. The contrast of green leaves and creamy sour cream with the crisp pancake is refreshing and gives the dish an added dimension.

Aside from providing a tasty and quick entry into Ukrainian cuisine, this freeze-dried corn deruny recipe shows how freeze-dried corn can be used in traditional recipes as an ingredient.