Appetizers - Cheese and Garlic Doughnuts

 Ingredients: 250 ml water, 100 g butter, 1 teaspoon sugar, salt a bit more than a pinch because they need to be salty, not sweet like eclairs, 125 g flour, 4 eggs. For the filling: 1 package of Philadelphia cheese (225 g), telemea to taste (for salt use telemea), dill to taste, garlic to taste, a green onion, pickled cucumber for decoration (or olives and mayonnaise and lettuce leaves... these for variation)

In a large saucepan, start by adding water, salt, sugar, and butter, then bring it to a boil. This is the base for creating a perfect dough for doughnuts. Meanwhile, sift the flour twice to ensure a fine and even texture, and set it aside. Once the water reaches a boiling point, remove the saucepan from the heat, and add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously to avoid lumps. It is essential that this step is done carefully, as the dough needs to be homogeneous. Place the saucepan back on the heat, and continue mixing until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pot, forming a compact ball.

After the dough is ready, let it cool. When it becomes warm, add the four eggs one by one, using a mixer to incorporate them well after each addition. This process will transform the dough into a more paste-like composition, perfect for decorating. Prepare a piping bag, but in its absence, a teaspoon can do the same job. Form small dough balls on a greased tray, which should be slightly larger than a large olive. It is important that they are spaced apart to allow room to rise during baking.

Preheat the oven to a moderate temperature, and bake the doughnuts without opening the oven door, to prevent them from deflating. After baking, remove them and let them cool on a rack. These doughnuts can be stored in airtight containers, being ideal for freezing for up to three months. When needed, they are thawed at room temperature, placed on a tray, and put in the preheated oven for 2-3 minutes, thus becoming crispy again.

For the filling, cut a small lid off each doughnut, and fill the inside with a delicious cream made of Philadelphia cheese, mixed with feta cheese, finely chopped green onions, dill, and garlic, all combined to achieve a savory flavor. Each filled doughnut can be decorated with a slice of pickled cucumber or an olive, ensuring a perfect contrast between the salty taste and the crispy texture. They can be arranged on elegant plates with lettuce leaves underneath or on round platters, and for an extra flavor, a layer of homemade mayonnaise mixed with sour cream can be created, which will perfectly complement these delicious creations. These filled doughnuts are ideal for serving at parties or gatherings with friends, being an easy-to-prepare snack that is extremely appreciated.

 Tags:  eggs onion greenery garlic unt flour cheese sugar telemea cucumbers doughnuts vegetarian recipes