Muffins with cheese and cumin

Cheese and caraway muffins – a simple and delicious recipe

If you want to impress your family or friends with a tasty appetizer, cheese and caraway muffins are the perfect choice! These fluffy muffins, filled with savory goodness, are ideal for any occasion and can be served warm or cold. Plus, they are very easy to prepare, and their flavors will win you over instantly. Start your culinary adventure and make these appetizing muffins!

Total preparation time: 2 hours
Cooking time: 20-25 minutes
Number of servings: 12 muffins

Ingredients:

For the dough:
- 20 g butter (preferably at room temperature for better mixing)
- 10 g fresh yeast (or 5 g dry yeast)
- 1 egg (fresh, ideally from free-range hens)
- 100 ml lukewarm milk (not hot, to activate the yeast)
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar (to feed the yeast)
- 200-250 g flour (you can use white flour or a mix with wholemeal flour for a richer taste)

For the filling:
- 8-10 tablespoons grated cheese (choose a salty cheese, like telemea or cottage cheese)
- 3 tablespoons sour cream (preferably fatty, for a creamy filling)
- 1 egg white (to bind the filling)
- 1 tablespoon semolina (to absorb excess moisture)

For decoration:
- 1 egg yolk (to give a golden color to the muffins)
- Caraway seeds (whole or ground, according to preference)

Preparation instructions:

1. Preparing the dough: Start by activating the yeast. In a small bowl, mix the yeast with the sugar and 3-4 tablespoons of lukewarm milk. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes until it becomes frothy. This step is essential for a fluffy dough.

2. Mixing the ingredients: In a large bowl, place the sifted flour and add the salt. Make a well in the center, where you will add the activated yeast, the egg, the soft butter, and the remaining lukewarm milk. Mix the ingredients with a spatula or your hands until you obtain a homogeneous dough.

3. Kneading the dough: On a floured work surface, knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it becomes elastic and no longer sticks to your hands. If it is too sticky, you can add a little flour.

4. Letting it rise: Place the dough in a bowl greased with a little oil, cover it with a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.

5. Preparing the filling: In a bowl, mix the grated cheese, sour cream, egg white, and semolina. The mixture should be homogeneous and thick, ready to fill the muffins.

6. Forming the muffins: After the dough has risen, divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a disc shape and add a tablespoon of filling in the center. Fold the edges of the dough over the filling and shape it so that the filling is completely covered.

7. Placing in the tray: Place the muffins in a tray lined with baking paper. Before baking, let them rise for another 30 minutes.

8. Preheating the oven: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C.

9. Decorating and baking: Brush each muffin with the beaten egg yolk and sprinkle caraway seeds on top. Bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden and fluffy.

10. Serving: Let the muffins cool slightly before serving. They are delicious both warm and cold. You can serve them alongside a fresh green salad or as an appetizer at a festive meal.

Variation suggestion: You can replace the cheese with feta cheese for a more intense flavor or add finely chopped olives to the filling for an extra burst of flavor. Also, for a unique result, you can experiment with different herbs, such as dill or oregano.

Enjoy these cheese and caraway muffins, a quick and simple recipe that will surely become a favorite in your kitchen!

 Ingredients: For the dough: 20 g butter, 10 g yeast, 1 egg, 100 ml warm milk, a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, 200-250 g flour. For the filling: 8-10 tablespoons grated cheese (salty), 3 tablespoons sour cream, 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon semolina. For decoration: 1 egg yolk, cumin.