Easter bread

Pasca is a traditional dessert, symbolic for spring holidays, often associated with the joy of returning to life and renewal. This delicious recipe combines simple yet flavorful ingredients that create a fluffy dough and a creamy cheese filling, making it perfect to be enjoyed with loved ones. Start preparing this delightful pasca and discover the secret of a dessert that blends tradition with fresh flavors.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 70 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

For the dough:
- 600 g flour (approximately, adjust according to the dough's consistency)
- 10 g dry yeast
- 250 ml lukewarm milk
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 100 g butter (melted)
- Grated zest of one orange or lemon
- 2 packets of vanilla sugar
- A pinch of salt

For the cheese filling:
- 500 g cottage cheese (ideally fatty for a better consistency)
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar
- 2 eggs
- Grated zest of one orange or lemon
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 100 g raisins (soaked in water and rum essence)

Preparation of the dough

1. Mixing dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine flour, dry yeast, and salt. This step is essential to ensure good dough development.

2. Preparing liquids: In a small pot, heat the milk with sugar and vanilla sugar. When the mixture becomes lukewarm (not hot!), add the diced butter. Keep on low heat until the butter completely melts, then remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

3. Combining ingredients: Once the milk mixture has cooled, add the grated zest of orange or lemon and the beaten egg yolks. Mix everything well until the ingredients are fully integrated.

4. Kneading the dough: Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients in the bowl. Starting with a spatula, mix until the dough begins to form, then knead with your hands until you obtain an elastic and non-sticky dough. If necessary, add a little extra flour.

5. Proofing the dough: Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let the dough rise in a warm place, away from drafts, for about 45 minutes, or until it doubles in volume.

Preparation of the filling

1. Mixing ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, sugar, sour cream, vanilla sugar, eggs, grated zest of orange or lemon, and flour. Mix everything until you obtain a smooth and creamy composition. Make sure the cheese is well crushed and no lumps remain.

2. Adding raisins: Before finishing the filling, add the well-drained raisins that have been soaked in the water and rum essence mixture. These will add a note of sweetness and a wonderful aroma to the dish.

Assembling the pasca

1. Dividing the dough: Once the dough has risen, divide it into two parts: 3/4 of the dough for the base and 1/4 for decoration.

2. Rolling out the dough: On a floured surface, roll out the larger portion of dough with a rolling pin until you obtain a sheet about 1 cm thick. Transfer the dough to a removable-bottomed baking pan greased with oil, making sure to raise the dough along the sides of the pan.

3. Adding the filling: Pour the cheese filling over the dough in the pan, leveling it evenly.

4. Decorating with dough: From the remaining portion of dough, you can create various shapes to decorate the surface of the pasca. Whether you opt for braided strips or flower shapes, let your imagination run wild.

5. Brushing with egg: Beat an egg and brush the pasca with it to achieve a golden and shiny crust.

Baking

1. Preheating the oven: Before placing the pasca in the oven, ensure it is preheated to 180°C.

2. Baking: Bake the pasca for about 70 minutes, or until it becomes golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. If you notice it browning too quickly, cover it with aluminum foil.

3. Cooling: Once the pasca is baked, let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then carefully remove it and let it cool completely on a wire rack.

Serving

Pasca can be served warm or at room temperature, making it ideal to be enjoyed with a cup of aromatic coffee or citrus tea. You can also accompany it with a vanilla sauce or a drizzle of honey for added sweetness.

Practical tips

- Calories and nutritional benefits: One serving of pasca contains approximately 350-400 calories, being rich in protein due to the cottage cheese and eggs. It is an excellent choice for a more filling dessert.
- Variations: You can experiment with different flavors in the filling by adding chocolate or chopped nuts. Additionally, raisins can be replaced with dates or cranberries for a different taste.
- Frequently asked questions:
- *What type of cheese is recommended?* Fatty cottage cheese is ideal, but you can also use ricotta for a finer filling.
- *How do I store pasca?* It keeps well in the refrigerator, covered, for 3-4 days.

Conclusion

Pasca is not just a dessert but also a tradition that brings family and friends together. Experiment with the recipe and turn it into your own culinary masterpiece! Enjoy!

 Ingredients: Dough Ingredients: 600g flour, 10g dry yeast, 250ml warm milk, 4 tablespoons sugar, 3 egg yolks, 100g butter, zest of an orange or lemon, 2 packets vanilla sugar, a pinch of salt. Filling Ingredients: 500g cottage cheese, 6 tablespoons sugar, 3 tablespoons sour cream, 1 packet vanilla sugar, 2 eggs, zest of an orange or lemon, 2 tablespoons flour, 100g raisins soaked in water and rum essence.