Which cheese should you use? The recipe uses tvorog, a well-drained fresh fermented cheese typical of Eastern Europe. In Romania, the closest equivalent is fresh unsalted cow's cheese, which has a slightly crumbly rather than creamy texture. If it is moist, leave it to drain in the fridge in a sieve lined with cheesecloth; otherwise the dough may need more flour and the dumplings will turn out dense.
Tender fresh cheese dumplings with poppy seeds and blueberries
Smooth fresh cheese, a delicate coating of poppy seeds and a few blueberries hidden in the middle. The dumplings cook quickly and are served warm, with sour cream and berry sauce.
Prep time: 15 minCook time: 5 minServings: 2
Classic method
Ingredients
- For the dough
- 200 g fresh unsalted cow's cheese, well drained of whey
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp white flour (about 20 g), for the dough
- 1–2 tsp sugar, to taste
- 1 pinch of salt
- For shaping and filling
- 2 tbsp white flour (about 20 g), for shaping
- 1–2 tsp poppy seeds
- 50 g blueberries or other berries, for the filling
- To serve
- Sour cream, butter and berry sauce, to serve (optional)
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How to make it
- Press the well-drained cheese through a sieve or mash it very finely with a fork.
- Add the egg, the sugar, the pinch of salt and the 2 tablespoons of flour for the dough. Mix only until it comes together. The mixture stays soft, but you should be able to shape it with floured hands.
- Sprinkle the flour for shaping and the poppy seeds over the worktop. Place the dough on top and roll it gently to coat it. Divide it into about 8–10 pieces.
- Flatten each piece, put a few blueberries in the centre, bring the edges together and seal them gently to form the dumplings.
- Bring a pan of water with a pinch of salt to the boil. When it starts boiling, turn the heat down so that it does not bubble too hard. Lower the dumplings into the water and gently loosen them from the bottom, if needed.
- Once they rise to the surface, cook them for about 2–3 more minutes. Lift them out with a slotted spoon; check one of them to make sure the dough around the filling is cooked through.
- Serve them warm with sour cream, a little melted butter and berry sauce or jam, to taste.
Thermomix adaptation TM6
The same ingredients and quantities are used. The TM6 makes the mixture; the dumplings are shaped by hand and cooked in a saucepan, so the appliance's blades do not damage them.
Ingredients
- For the dough
- 200 g fresh unsalted cow's cheese, well drained of whey
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp white flour (about 20 g), for the dough
- 1–2 tsp sugar, to taste
- 1 pinch of salt
- For shaping and filling
- 2 tbsp white flour (about 20 g), for shaping
- 1–2 tsp poppy seeds
- 50 g blueberries or other berries, for the filling
- To serve
- Sour cream, butter and berry sauce, to serve (optional)
How to make it
- Put the well-drained cheese, the egg and the sugar in the mixing bowl: 10 sec / speed 3.
- Add the salt and the 2 tablespoons of flour for the dough: 8 sec / speed 2.5. If needed, scrape the mixture down from the sides with the spatula and mix briefly, without making it too runny.
- Sprinkle the flour for shaping and the poppy seeds over the worktop. Shape 8–10 dumplings, put some blueberries in each one and seal them well.
- Cook them in a saucepan of lightly salted water over a medium heat. Once they float, continue for about 2–3 more minutes. Lift them out with a slotted spoon and serve them warm.
Nutritional values
Estimare automată din ingrediente: 5 din 7 recunoscute; fără valori pentru: 200 g brânză dulce de vaci, bine scursă , 1–2 lingurițe mac.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use cottage cheese?
Yes, if it is well drained and mashed. Types with a lot of whey may need extra flour and will change the texture.
Why only two tablespoons of flour?
Well-drained cheese contains less moisture. This is the key to tender dumplings. If the dough is very sticky, first check how moist the cheese is, then sprinkle on only as much flour as you need for shaping.
Can I use frozen fruit?
Yes, preferably small fruit such as blueberries, in a small amount. Seal the dough well so the juice does not leak into the water.
Source: Recipe inspired by @nastya__dreamy (Instagram, post from 10 October). The notes about the cheese and the TM6 method are adaptations for După gust.
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