Turosgomboc Hungarian Farmers Cheese Dumplings Recipes

TUROSGOMBOC - HUNGARIAN FARMER'S CHEESE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Using a wooden spoon, press the farmers cheese through a medium sieve into a large bowl.
• Add the egg, the semolina, and the pinch of salt.
• Mix with wooden spoon until the dough reaches a uniformly stiff consistency.
• Refrigerate mixture for at least 30 minutes.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
• While the dough chills, prepare the toasted breadcrumbs.
• Melt butter in a nonstick or cast iron pan. Add the bread crumbs, stirring and tossing until a golden brown color is achieved. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
• Reduce the water's heat to a simmer.
• Using wet hands to prevent the dough from sticking, form dumplings 2 inches in diameter, and drop them gently into the water. (Do not crowd the dumplings in the water. As the first ones float and are removed you can add new ones to replace them.)
• You may give a gentle stir to ensure the dumplings don't rest on the bottom of the pot.
• When the dumplings float to the surface they are done.
• Using a bamboo strainer or a slotted spoon, remove the cooked dumplings to the pan of bread crumbs.
• Roll the dumplings around until well coated.
• Serve immediately with cinnamon sugar (or plain granulated sugar) and sour cream (we usually thin it with milk so it flows a little better).

FARMER CHEESE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Stir together flour and salt in a bowl. Make a well in flour mixture and add egg, oil, and water, then gently beat with a fork, gradually incorporating shallow scrapings from inside flour wall to form a dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface, adding just enough flour to prevent dough from sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Rinse a 2-quart bowl with hot water and dry it, then invert over dough. Let dough stand, covered, 30 to 60 minutes.
• Make cheese filling:
• Stir together farmer cheese, sour cream, egg yolks, salt, and 1 tablespoon bread crumbs in a bowl. Beat egg whites in another bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold stiff peaks. Fold whites into cheese mixture gently but thoroughly.
• Roll and fill dough:
• Bring an 8- to 10-quart pot of salted water (see Tips, page 141) to a boil.
• Meanwhile, cover table with tablecloth, allowing cloth to hang over edges, and dust cloth lightly with flour (it isn't necessary to dust overhang). Lightly flour dough and roll out on cloth with rolling pin, as evenly as possible, into a 24- by 20-inch rectangle, so that a long side of rectangle is nearest you. Dough should be thin enough for you to see any pattern on tablecloth.
• Gently brush dough with 2 tablespoons butter and sprinkle with parsley and remaining 2 tablespoons bread crumbs. Divide cheese filling into 2 mounds on dough on left and right sides. Spread filling into 2 side-by-side 18- by 10-inch rectangles (with a short side of each cheese rectangle nearest you), leaving a 2-inch space between rectangles and a 1-inch border around outer edges.
• Holding tablecloth edge nearest you tautly, lift up cloth to make dough roll over on itself (away from you). Continue rolling, lifting tablecloth and pulling it toward you until dough is completely rolled (there is no need to use your hands to roll the dough). Cut into 2 rolls through 2-inch space between fillings.
• Carefully transfer 1 roll using a metal spatula onto center of 1 piece of cheesecloth. Fold cheesecloth over roll to cover top and wrap roll, then twist ends of cheesecloth and tie with kitchen string about 1 inch from each end. (Excess cloth on ends helps in lifting roll when boiled.) Wrap second roll in same manner.
• Cook rolls in boiling water (rolls will float), partially covered, 15 minutes. Transfer with a large slotted spoon or skimmer to a shallow baking pan and cool 3 minutes. Cut off kitchen string and unwrap cheesecloth, then transfer rolls to a platter with a metal spatula. Trim off and discard ends of rolls, then drizzle rolls with remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Cut into 1 1/2-inch-thick slices.

TVOROG - RUSSIAN STYLE FARMER'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Pour the milk into a large casserole.
• Add the yogurt. The closer is the yogurt to the expiration date, the better. The milk should be relatively fresh though.
• Mix and leave under a cheesecloth (so that it breathes) for about 48 hours. If the temperature in your house drops to 60F overnight, warm the casserole in the evening on slowest possible heat for about 10-15 minutes.
• After 48 hours (possibly up to 72) the milk will have kefir's consistency and smell.
• Put the casserole on the slowest possible heat for about 60-75 minutes. The contents of the casserole should warm up to 140F but not higher. At this stage a white lump should separate itself completely from a clean liquid.
• Drain the liquid. You may preserve it (this is milk whey) to use in breads and pancakes.
• Tie the lump in a cheesecloth, put it on a strainer, put the strainer to hang over the empty casserole and put a small lid with a weight over the cheesecloth for the complete draining.
• Put the casserole with all the stuff into the refrigerator for 8-12 hours. The longer you keep it there the drier it gets (personal preference matters).