Papanași: Romanian Fried Donuts
User Reviews
4.9
Papanași: Romanian Fried Donuts
Description
Papanași: Romanian Fried Donuts are prepared by mixing cottage cheese, eggs, powdered sugar, flour, and baking powder to form a soft dough. The batter is shaped into larger rings with holes in the center and smaller balls, then fried in hot oil until golden and cooked through. The soft, tender texture comes from the cottage cheese and careful frying technique, which avoids adding extra flour that would make them dense. They are assembled and served warm with sour cream and berry jam, and optionally dusted with vanilla powdered sugar for added sweetness.
The flavor contrasts between the slightly tangy cottage cheese dough and sweet jam create a unique tasting experience. Frying preserves the softness inside while achieving a light crispy exterior. The small dough balls cook faster and accompany the rings on the serving plate.
This dish is often enjoyed as a warm dessert or sweet snack and is best served immediately after frying to retain softness and freshness. Sour cream and jam add moisture and richness, making the papanași more indulgent.
Ingredients
Donuts
- 500 g cottage cheese
- 2 egg
- 30 g powdered sugar
- 220 g all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
For assembling:
- sour cream
- blueberry jam (or sour cherry, blackberry or mixed berry jam)
- powdered sugar optional, vanilla-flavored
Instructions
- To prepare the donuts mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Then, using your hands (covered in flour), shape 10 large balls (about the size of a chicken egg) and 10 small balls (about the size of a quail egg). The dough will be soft, and that’s how it should be. Resist the temptation to add more flour, as this will make the papanași dense and not fluffy.
- Make a hole in the center of each large ball with the handle of a wooden spoon. Then, carefully transfer the papanași into hot oil.
- Fry the papanași on medium heat for about 3 minutes on one side and another 2 minutes on the other side. The small balls will cook faster.
- Transfer the papanași to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Assemble them and serve with sour cream and jam while they’re still hot.
- Optional: sprinkle with vanilla powdered sugar and enjoy these delicious, warm papanași!
Notes
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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