Moldovan traditional skirts
Moldovan Poale-n Brau - An Unforgettable Delight
Who hasn't heard of poale-n brau? This traditional delicacy from Moldovan cuisine is not just a pie, but a true culinary treasure, full of flavor and story. Its origins are deeply rooted in local traditions, each recipe having a personal touch, but all sharing a common element: love for simple yet quality ingredients. Today, I will guide you step by step through the process of preparing these delicious pies, so you can enjoy them in the comfort of your own home.
Preparation time: 1 hour
Baking time: 50 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Number of servings: 12 pies
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 kg of high-quality flour
- 3 large eggs
- 250 g sugar
- 200 ml lukewarm milk
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 50 g melted butter
- 100 ml oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Grated peel of one lemon
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar
- 50 g fresh yeast
For the filling:
- 1 kg of cottage cheese (preferably well-drained)
- 250 g sugar
- 2 egg yolks and 1 whole egg
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- Vanilla sugar (to taste)
- A drop of rum essence (optional)
Preparation
1. Preparing the dough
We start with the dough, which is the base of these delicious pies. In a large bowl, we ask for the help of flour. Pour the flour and create a well in the middle. Here you will add the fresh yeast, which you will mix with a little warm water until it completely dissolves. Add a little flour to form a starter. Cover with a towel and let it rise for 15 minutes, until its volume doubles.
Tip: Make sure the water is not too hot, or you will kill the yeast. The ideal temperatures are between 37-40°C.
Once the starter has risen, add the eggs beaten with salt, sugar, lukewarm milk, sour cream, grated lemon peel, and vanilla sugar. Mix everything until you get a homogeneous composition. Then, add the melted butter and start kneading, gradually incorporating the oil. Continue kneading the dough for 10-15 minutes until it becomes elastic and smooth.
Chef's tip: If the dough seems too sticky, don't hesitate to add a little more flour, but be careful not to overdo it, so you don't end up with too hard a dough.
Let the dough rise in a warm place, covered, for about an hour, or until it doubles in volume.
2. Preparing the filling
In the meantime, let's take care of the filling. The cottage cheese will be passed through a meat grinder or mashed well with a fork until it becomes creamy. In a bowl, combine the cheese with the sugar, egg yolks, whole egg, sour cream, vanilla sugar, and rum essence. Mix well until you get a homogeneous composition.
Frequently asked question: What type of cheese should I use? It is recommended to use well-drained cottage cheese to avoid a too-soft filling. If the filling is too soft, add a tablespoon of flour.
3. Assembling the pies
After the dough has risen, take it and roll it out on a floured surface until you get a sheet about 1 cm thick. Cut the dough into squares of about 10x10 cm. In the center of each square, place a tablespoon of the cheese filling.
Fold opposite corners of the squares over the filling, forming a pouch. Place the pies in a greased baking tray, leaving a little space between them for rising.
Let the pies rise in the tray for 10-15 minutes, then brush them with a beaten egg and sprinkle with poppy seeds, if desired.
4. Baking
Preheat the oven to 180°C (medium temperature) and place the tray with pies inside. Bake for about 50 minutes or until the pies are golden and fluffy.
Tip: If you want a crispier crust, you can leave the pies in the oven for 5 more minutes, but be careful not to burn them.
5. Finishing
After the pies are baked, take the tray out of the oven and prepare a simple syrup from 100 ml of water, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of oil, and a little vanilla sugar. Soak the warm pies with this syrup to give them a sweet and moist taste. Let them cool slightly before enjoying.
Serving suggestions
These poale-n brau are delicious both warm and cold. You can serve them with a glass of warm milk, a cup of fragrant tea, or even with a glass of sweet wine for a complete culinary experience.
Variations
If you want to experiment, you can add different spices to the cheese filling, such as cinnamon or vanilla essence. You can also replace the cottage cheese with feta cheese for a saltier filling.
Nutritional benefits
These pies contain protein from eggs and cheese, carbohydrates from flour, and healthy fats from butter and oil. Additionally, sour cream adds a boost of calcium and vitamins. Moderate consumption of these pies can be part of a balanced diet.
Calories
One serving of poale-n brau (1 pie) contains approximately 250-300 kcal, depending on the ingredients used and the serving sizes.
In conclusion, poale-n brau are more than just a simple pie; they are a piece of our soul and tradition, full of flavor and nostalgia. I encourage you to prepare them at home and share them with your loved ones. Don't forget to enjoy every step of cooking because every meal is a story waiting to be told!
Ingredients: For the dough: 1kg flour, 3 eggs, 250g sugar, 200ml milk, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 50g butter, 100ml oil, a teaspoon of salt, grated lemon zest, vanilla sugar, 50g yeast. Filling: 1kg cottage cheese, 250g sugar, 2 egg yolks and one whole egg, 2 tablespoons sour cream, vanilla sugar and a little rum essence.
