DESERT: PAPANASI [small cottage cheese dumplings]

3. DESERT: PAPANASI [small cottage cheese dumplings] When you come to Romania you definitely have to try a special desert called “papanasi”. You’ll find it in almost any restaurant that serves Romanian dishes and, with a bit of luck, in most of the other restaurants around the country too. I am sure you’ll love it as most people who try them do. INGREDIENTS: • 400g sweet cottage cheese • 4 spoons semolina • 200-300g flour • 2 tablespoons sugar • 1 or 2 eggs • 1 vanilla sugar (optional depending on different tastes) • cooking oil • cream and jam for serving

PROCEDURE: In a bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, semolina, 2 tablespoons of flour, the sugar and eggs (and the vanilla sugar as well, if you like the flavor). Make small balls out of the mix and cover them in flour on the outside in order to prevent them from being sticky; put a hole in their center so the end they should look like a donut. Heat the oil in a pot or wok and fry the papanasi donuts you made in a deep layer of oil, almost covering them. Cook each one on both sides for no more than 4 minutes, until you see them turning golden brown. After baking each one, serve them on a plate with sour cream or jam. We used cherry jam, but you can use any other jam, according to your likes.