Mocanesti pies
To prepare this delicious recipe, we start by ensuring that we have all the necessary ingredients at hand. You will need flour, water, a pinch of salt, and lard or oil, depending on your preferences. In a large bowl, combine the flour with the salt, then gradually add water, stirring with a wooden spoon until a homogeneous dough begins to form. Then, add the lard or oil and knead the dough well for about 10 minutes, until it becomes elastic and smooth. Cover it with a damp towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.
After the dough has rested, divide it into four equal parts. Take each piece and roll it out on a floured surface, so that you obtain a sheet about the size of a plate. Make sure the sheets are thin, but not so thin that they break. Once you have obtained the four sheets, brush each sheet with lard or oil over the entire surface. Stack them on top of each other, and finally, brush only one half of the last sheet with lard.
Now comes the interesting part: fold the unbrushed side over the brushed side, thus forming a package with eight sheets. This process will give your dish a crispy and delicious texture. Once you have completed this step, place the package in the refrigerator for about an hour. This resting time will allow the dough to relax, making it easier to roll out later.
After the time has passed, take the dough out of the fridge and roll it out to a thickness of about 0.5 cm. Use a knife or a pizza cutter to cut squares measuring 8 cm on each side. These will be the base for your filling. In the center of each square, place a teaspoon of cheese, making sure it is well distributed. Then, fold the edges of each square, sealing them tightly to prevent the filling from leaking during frying.
Heat the lard in a deep pan, so that it is enough to partially cover the products you are going to fry. When the lard is hot, carefully add each filled square to the pan. Fry them until golden and crispy on both sides, about 3-4 minutes on each side. Once they are ready, remove them to a sieve or paper towel to absorb excess fat. These delicious cheese squares are excellent served warm, as an appetizer or snack, and will surely impress everyone who tastes them. Enjoy with pleasure!
Ingredients: For the dough: 2 egg yolks, 380 g flour, 200 ml milk, 1/ teaspoon salt. For greasing the sheets: 150 g fat: butter/lard Fat for frying Filling: 250 g of sheep cheese mixed with an egg.
