Cheese pie (curd) - puff pastry

Cheese and puff pastry pie – A simple and delicious recipe

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 40 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Number of servings: 8 servings

I invite you to discover a wonderful recipe for cheese pie, made with an easy-to-make puff pastry that will add flavor to your table. This cheese pie (cottage cheese) is perfect as both a dessert and an appetizer, and the combination of fresh cheese and slightly crispy pastry will delight any gourmet.

Ingredients for the dough:
- 400 g flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 egg yolks
- 100 ml mineral water (or cold water)
- 150 g natural yogurt (or sour cream)

Ingredients for the filling:
- 500 g cottage cheese (or ricotta)
- 2 eggs
- 100 g sugar (or to taste)
- 1 packet of vanilla (or vanilla essence)
- Grated zest of one lemon (optional for a fresh taste)

Step by step:

1. Preparing the dough: In a large bowl, sift the flour with the salt to ensure there are no lumps. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the egg yolks, yogurt, and mineral water. Mix with a spatula until you obtain a homogeneous dough. If necessary, add 1-2 teaspoons of water to achieve a smooth and elastic consistency.

2. Kneading: Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes, until it becomes elastic and smooth. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rest for 15 minutes.

3. Preparing the filling: In another bowl, mix the cottage cheese (or ricotta) with the eggs, sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest. It is important to use well-drained cheese to prevent the filling from being too wet. You can adjust the amount of sugar to your liking, depending on how sweet you want the pie.

4. Assembling the pie: Preheat the oven to 180°C. Divide the dough into two parts, one larger than the other. Roll out the first part on a floured surface, forming a thin sheet that we place in the baking tray lined with parchment paper. Pour the cheese filling evenly over the entire surface.

5. Covering the pie: Roll out the second part of the dough and place it over the filling. Seal the edges well by pressing them gently with your fingers or a fork to prevent the filling from leaking during baking. Make a few cuts on the top of the pie to allow steam to escape.

6. Baking the pie: Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden and crispy.

7. Serving: Let the pie cool slightly before cutting and serving. It is delicious both warm and cold! You can accompany it with a yogurt sauce or sour cream for extra creaminess.

Practical tips:
- You can add raisins or black olives to the filling for a more sophisticated version.
- If you prefer a stronger taste, you can replace some of the cheese with feta or telemea cheese.
- Use sparkling mineral water for a lighter dough.

This cheese pie is a simple recipe but has a great impact on those who taste it. Whether you serve it at a festive meal or as a quick snack, it will surely become a family favorite!

 Ingredients: Ingredients for 2 sheets of dough: 2 egg yolks, 400 grams of flour 000, a pinch of salt, 100 ml of carbonated mineral water, 125 ml of full-fat yogurt. For wrapping: 175 grams of butter or margarine (I used Unirea margarine), 30 grams of flour. For the filling, I mixed the following: 500 grams of salty cheese, 500 grams of sweet cottage cheese, 1 bunch of finely chopped dill, 5 eggs.