Cheese and Caraway Snails
Ingredients: 500 grams of flour, 200 ml of warm water, 25 grams of yeast, 75 grams of butter, 25 grams of lard (about 1/2 tablespoon), 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of cumin, rosemary (I had rosemary powder and used about 1/2 teaspoon); filling: grated cheese, grated cheese, a little olive oil.
To prepare these delicious and fluffy treats, we will start with making the dough. In a mixing machine or a large bowl, we will add the liquid ingredients. First, we melt 100 grams of butter and 50 grams of lard, ensuring they are well combined and warmed, but not hot, so as not to activate the yeast prematurely. In another container, we dissolve the yeast in warm water, stirring gently until it completely dissolves. It is essential that the water is lukewarm, not hot, to avoid destroying the active microorganisms in the yeast.
After the yeast has dissolved, we add the butter and lard mixture to the bowl with the liquid ingredients. Then, we begin to gradually add the flour, previously mixed with preferred spices such as salt, pepper, a bit of oregano, or marjoram, depending on taste. We knead the dough for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes elastic and smooth. It is important to ensure that no lumps of flour remain. After kneading, we cover the dough with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place for about an hour, until it doubles in volume.
Once the dough has risen, we divide it into two equal balls. We take each ball and roll it out with a rolling pin on a surface dusted with a little flour, forming a thin sheet. After rolling out the first sheet, we add a drizzle of olive oil on its surface, enhancing the flavor and achieving a crispy texture. We then sprinkle grated cheese and cheese, ensuring we distribute the ingredients evenly. After finishing the filling, we carefully roll the sheet, forming a cylinder.
Once we have the cylinder formed, we cut it into pieces of about 3 cm, placing them in a baking tray greased with olive oil, being careful to leave a little space between them to allow for expansion during rising. We cover the tray with a towel and let it rise again for about an hour. When the rising time is up, we preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and transfer the tray to the oven, baking for 40-45 minutes until they are golden and fluffy.
These treats are ideal to be served warm, alongside a fresh salad or as an appetizer on various occasions. The aroma of melted cheese and spices will fill the entire house, and each bite will be an explosion of flavor, making them truly irresistible!
