Recipe
Ingredients:
Recipe For the dough:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup lukewarm water (or more, as needed)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (optional, for softer dough)
Recipe For the filling:
2 cups cottage cheese (or farmer's cheese), drained well
1 egg
2 tablespoons sour cream or heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar (optional, for a slightly sweet filling)
Salt and pepper to taste
A pinch of nutmeg (optional, for extra flavor)
Recipe For cooking:
Water (for boiling)
A pinch of salt
Recipe For the topping:
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (preferably fresh)
Instructions:
Prepare the dough:
In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
Make a well in the center and add the egg and half of the lukewarm water.
Gradually mix the flour into the wet ingredients, adding more water as necessary, until you get a smooth, elastic dough.
Knead the dough for about 5-10 minutes, adding flour if the dough is too sticky.
Cover the dough with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let it rest for about 30 minutes.
Prepare the filling:
In a separate bowl, combine the drained cottage cheese, egg, sour cream, sugar (if using), salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
Mix everything until smooth and well incorporated. Taste the filling and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Roll the dough:
Once the dough has rested, roll it out on a floured surface into a thin rectangle (about 1/8-inch thick).
Spread the cheese filling evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
Shape the dumplings:
Carefully roll the dough up, like a jelly roll, from one of the longer sides.
Pinch the edges together to seal the roll.
Cut the roll into 2-3 inch (5-7 cm) sections to form individual dumplings.
Cook the dumplings:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Gently drop the dumplings into the boiling water. Stir gently to prevent them from sticking to the bottom.
Boil the dumplings for about 15-20 minutes, or until they float to the surface and are cooked through.
Prepare the topping:
While the dumplings are cooking, melt the butter in a pan over medium heat.
Add the breadcrumbs to the pan and toast them until golden brown, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
Serve:
Once the dumplings are cooked, remove them from the water with a slotted spoon and drain.
Serve the dumplings warm, topped with the toasted breadcrumbs and melted butter.
Tips:
For variation, you can add fresh herbs (like chives or parsley) to the cheese filling for extra flavor.
If you prefer, you can also bake the dumplings instead of boiling them. Simply place the boiled dumplings in a baking dish, cover with the butter and breadcrumbs, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes until golden and crispy.
