Description
Traditional Romanian sweet cheese donuts, Papanasi, served with a luscious blueberry syrup and creamy topping.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 500 grams Twarog cheese (or ricotta/cottage cheese as substitutions)
- 300 grams flour
- 2 eggs
- 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Zest of one lemon
- 1.5 cups crème fraîche (or sour cream/yogurt as substitutions)
- 1.5 cups blueberry syrup (or blueberry jam thinned with water)
- 2 cups sunflower oil or other neutral oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cheese, eggs, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and salt. Mix until smooth.
- Gradually add flour and baking powder until a soft dough forms.
- Divide the dough into portions and shape into small donuts, making a hole in the center.
- Heat sunflower oil in a deep pan to 175°C (350°F). Fry the donuts until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove donuts and drain on paper towels.
- Top each donut with a generous spoonful of crème fraîche and drizzle with blueberry syrup.
- Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Twarog cheese can be substituted with ricotta or well-drained cottage cheese.
- Make sure the oil is at the correct temperature to prevent donuts from absorbing too much oil.
- Blueberry syrup can be replaced with any berry syrup or compote.
- Donuts are best served fresh but can be reheated slightly before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut with topping
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 55mg