Grandma's Cheese Pastries
We prepare the leaven from yeast, adding a little warm water and a pinch of salt. It is important to ensure that the water is not too hot, so as not to destroy the properties of the yeast. After mixing the ingredients well, we let the mixture rest for a few minutes, during which the yeast will start to act and activate. This is the key to obtaining a fluffy and airy dough. After this period, we add the sour cream, the rest of the water, and begin to knead the dough with great love and enthusiasm. It is important to invest our energy and passion into this process because a well-kneaded dough will lead to a delicious cheese pastry.
Once we have obtained a homogeneous and elastic dough, we let it rise for half an hour, covered with a clean towel, in a warm place. During this time, the aroma will begin to develop, and the dough will double in volume. In the meantime, we take care of the filling: we prepare the cheese, which we mix with the eggs, the two tablespoons of sugar, a pinch of salt, and lemon essence. This combination will give the pastries a perfectly balanced sweet-sour taste. We mix all the ingredients well until we obtain a uniform and creamy composition, which we set aside.
Once the dough has risen, we are ready to shape the pastries. We roll out a piece of dough on a floured surface, making sure it is not too thin to support the filling. Using a knife or spatula, we cut pieces of different sizes, according to our preferences. In each piece of dough, we place a portion of cheese, then carefully fold it, sealing the edges by pressing with our fingers.
To give them a savory taste, we heat a few tablespoons of lard in a pan, which will add extra flavor to the pastries. We fry the pastries one by one, making sure to turn them on all sides to brown evenly. Once they are ready, we dust them with vanilla sugar at the time of serving, thus bringing a sweet contrast that will delight the taste buds. These pastries are delicious both warm and cold, and their inviting aroma will turn any meal into a special moment. Enjoy your meal!
Ingredients: * 1/2 cube of yeast * 2 tablespoons of sour cream * 1 cup of lukewarm water * flour as needed * 400 grams of sweet cheese * 2 eggs * lemon essence * 2 tablespoons of sugar * lard for frying * vanilla sugar for serving * salt
