Smazhenka (Belarusian Savoury Pizza-Snack)

Name: Smazhenka (Belarusian Savoury Pizza-Snack)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 3
Cuisine: Belarus
Ingredients: Plain flour — 200 g (7.1 oz); Milk — 150 ml (2/3 cup); Whole Eggs, large — 2; Baking powder — 1 tsp; Salt — 0.5 tsp; Cooked ham, diced — 150 g (5.3 oz); Hard cheese, grated — 100 g (3.5 oz); Sour cream — 2 tbsp

The Quirky Foodster Team

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15 min

Prep

25 min

Cook

Servings

Ingredients

Plain flour — 200 g (7.1 oz)
Milk — 150 ml (2/3 cup)
Whole Eggs, large — 2
Baking powder — 1 tsp
Salt — 0.5 tsp
Cooked ham, diced — 150 g (5.3 oz)
Hard cheese, grated — 100 g (3.5 oz)
Sour cream — 2 tbsp

Method

Preheat the oven to 200C (400F) and grease a baking tray or round tin.
Whisk together the flour, milk, one egg, baking powder and salt to form a thick, pourable batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared tray, spreading it evenly to about 1.5cm (1/2in) thick.
Scatter the diced ham evenly over the batter.
Whisk the remaining egg with the sour cream and drizzle this over the top.
Sprinkle over the grated cheese.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until well risen, set in the centre and golden on top.
Slice into squares or wedges and serve warm.

Introduction: Often jokingly nicknamed ‘Belarusian pizza’, smazhenka is a thick savoury batter baked with toppings like ham, cheese, sausage or a sour cream and egg mixture, and it’s a familiar quick bite sold at bakeries and street food stalls across Belarus.

Cultural Background: Often jokingly nicknamed ‘Belarusian pizza’, smazhenka is a thick savoury batter baked with toppings like ham, cheese, sausage or a sour cream and egg mixture, and it’s a familiar quick bite sold at bakeries and street food stalls across Belarus. Its dense, bready base sets it apart from Italian pizza, making it more of a filling, portable snack than a thin-crust dish.

Tips: The batter should be thick enough to hold the toppings without them sinking to the bottom. Let it rest for a few minutes after baking so it slices cleanly.

Variations: Swap the ham for sautéed mushrooms and onion for a vegetarian version. Add sliced tomato or bell pepper for extra colour and freshness.

Storage: Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 2 days.

Reheating: Reheat slices in a 180C (350F) oven for 8-10 minutes until warmed through.

FAQs:

Q: Can I prepare smazhenka batter ahead of time?

A: It’s best baked soon after mixing, as the baking powder loses effectiveness the longer it sits.