Blog/source/_posts/2015-03-08-how-to-cook-patatnik.markdown

---
layout: post
title: "How to cook Patatnik?"
date: 2015-03-08 23:01
comments: true
categories: geekscookin cooking
---

This is my first non technical post here. I'm goona explain in details my way to cook Patatnik - Bulgarian dish from the Rhodopi Mountains. It's made of shredded potatoes, eggs, onions, cheese and some local spices. I'm not sure if this is the most authentic recipe but it's the way I like it.

<!-- more -->

## What is needed for two servings:
1. 3 - 4 medium potatoes;
2. A head of an onion;
3. 3 eggs;
4. ~100g. of white cheese (Sirene. It's famous in the balkans. Something similar is the greek Féta but it's too greasy. In western europe, Sirene can be found in the Polish shops (in UK) and the arabic markets);
5. Sprig of Spearmint (in Bulgarian it's called Dzhodzhen or Gyozum, the latin name is Mentha Spicata. This spice is very suitable for potatoes and beans.);
6. Salt. Instead of salt I'm using "Chiirska merudiya". It's a type of grass which is crushed with salt and dried. I don't know the official name of the plant. It's known and called "Chiirska merudiya" in the region of Trakia in Bulgaria. It's very simmilar to "Nectaroscordum siculum ssp. bulgaricum" which is used the same way, with salt. 

### First, peel the potatoes:

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/a.jpg" alt="Peeling the potatoes" />

### After that, cut the onion into small pieces:

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/b.jpg" alt="A head of onion" />
<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/c.jpg" alt="Cutted onion" />

### Shred the potatoes thinly:

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/d.jpg" alt="Potato shredder" />
<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/e.jpg" alt="Shredded potatoes" />

### Squeeze the potatoes by hand to dehidrate them (That's my way?!):

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/f.jpg" alt="Potato water" />
... and throw the water!

### Add the onion:

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/g.jpg" alt="Adding the onion" />

### Add the eggs and the cheese: 

The cheese and the eggs can be smashed and mixed previously.

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/h.jpg" alt="Mixing the cheese and the eggs with the taties" />

### Add the spices and then mix everthing again:

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/i.jpg" alt="Everything is in.." />

This is how a jar of home made Merudia salt looks like:
<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/j.jpg" alt="Merudia" />

### Grease two clay plates with some oil:

These are authentic bulgarian plates :)

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/k.jpg" alt="Oiling the plates.." />

### Put the mixture in the plates and bake it:

It must be baked on 220°c between 30 and 60 minutes. Depends of the humidity of the mixture.

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/l.jpg" alt="Ready for baking.." />

### ... and voilà! Serve it with [Ayran](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayran) and something spicy ;)

<img src="{{ root_url }}/images/cooking/patatnik/tadaa.jpg" alt="Tadaa!" />