Moldovan Cheese Pastries

 Ingredients: Dough: 800 gr flour 3 eggs 50 gr yeast 5 lg sugar 350 ml water 50 ml oil salt Filling: 600 gr cottage cheese sugar to taste 3 eggs salt vanilla sugar lemon zest

To prepare these delicious cheese pastries, start by gathering all the necessary ingredients. You will need: 500 g of wheat flour, 250 ml of lukewarm milk, 50 g of melted butter, 25 g of fresh yeast, 100 g of sugar, 1 egg, a pinch of salt, and your favorite filling, which can be sweet cottage cheese mixed with sugar and vanilla or fruit jam.

The first step is to prepare the dough. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm milk, adding a teaspoon of sugar to activate the fermentation. Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes until a foam forms on the surface. Then, in another bowl, combine the flour, the remaining sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the beaten egg, melted butter, and the yeast mixture. Mix the ingredients with a spatula or by hand until you obtain a soft and homogeneous dough that does not stick to your hands.

After kneading the dough, cover it with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place, away from drafts, for about an hour or until it doubles in volume. When the dough has risen, divide it into equal pieces, each weighing about 70-80 g. Roll each piece between your palms to form perfect balls and let them rest for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes have passed, take each ball of dough and roll it out with a rolling pin on a floured surface, forming discs about 10 cm in diameter. In the center of each disc, place a tablespoon of the chosen filling, being careful not to add too much to avoid spilling during baking. Then, gather the edges of the dough over the filling, pinching well to form the pastry. Place each pastry on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leaving enough space between them to expand during baking.

Once you have placed all the pastries on the tray, let them rise again for about 20-30 minutes, covered with a towel. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Before placing them in the oven, brush each pastry with beaten egg for a golden and shiny crust. Sprinkle sugar on top, which will add a sweet and crunchy note.

Bake the pastries for 25-30 minutes or until they turn golden. After removing them from the oven, let them cool slightly, then enjoy them warm with a fragrant tea or coffee. This recipe will indulge you with a delicious taste and a fluffy texture, perfect for any occasion!

 Tags:  eggs flour oil cheese sugar lemon vegetarian recipes recipes for children