Recipe for making cheese doughnuts

To prepare a delicious papanasi recipe, we start by organizing and gathering all the necessary ingredients. It is essential to have fresh cheese on hand, preferably cottage cheese, which will give the creamy texture and specific taste of the dessert. In a large bowl, using a whisk, we will mix the cheese with sugar, vanilla sugar, semolina, a pinch of salt, lemon zest for extra flavor, eggs, and baking soda dissolved in a little vinegar. This mixture will form the base of our dough.

As we mix, we will notice how the ingredients combine into a homogeneous composition. In the end, we gradually add the flour, continuing to knead carefully. It is important to obtain a soft dough that can be easily shaped. If you find that the dough is too sticky, do not hesitate to add a little more flour, being careful not to overdo it, because we want to keep the fluffy texture of the papanasi.

After we have well homogenized the composition, we let the dough rest for 10-15 minutes. This will allow the ingredients to blend perfectly and will facilitate the shaping of the papanasi. After the resting period, we divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, each representing a delicious papanas.

With hands dusted with flour, we take a piece of dough and form two spheres: one small, about the size of a walnut, and one larger, which we gently flatten. In the center of the larger sphere, we make a hole with our finger, thus obtaining the characteristic shape of the papanasi. These will be fried and will turn golden and crispy on the outside.

In a deep pan, we heat the oil over low to medium heat. It is important not to let it get too hot, to allow the papanasi to cook evenly. We fry the papanasi until they become brown and appetizing, making sure to turn them on all sides. Once they are ready, we remove them onto absorbent paper to eliminate excess oil.

Now comes the most enjoyable part: serving! The papanasi are served warm, accompanied by a generous layer of sour cream and your favorite jam, whether it is cherry, raspberry, or strawberry. This combination will turn any meal into a true feast of flavors. Don't forget to enjoy them with your loved ones, to share the joy of this traditional Romanian dessert.