### Delicious Ricotta Pastries - Simple and Quick Recipe
Let’s go back in time to those magical moments spent in front of a bakery, where the inviting aroma of pastries lured us to indulge our senses. Now, it's time to recreate that experience at home with a simple yet flavorful recipe that will remind us of those special moments.
#### Preparation time: 30 minutes
#### Rising time: 1 hour
#### Baking time: 20-25 minutes
#### Total time: 1 hour and 55 minutes
#### Servings: 18-20 pastries
### Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 kg flour
- 5 eggs
- 180 g sugar
- 2 packets dry yeast
- 350 ml milk
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 200 g margarine (or butter)
- A pinch of salt
For the filling:
- 800 g ricotta (or cottage cheese)
- 2 eggs
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1 packet vanilla
- 100 g raisins
### Instructions
#### Step 1: Preparing the Dough
1. In a large bowl, sift the flour to give it an airy texture. Add the salt and make a well in the center of the flour.
2. In a saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, yeast, and lemon zest. Heat on low until the sugar dissolves completely, being careful not to boil the mixture.
3. Pour the warm milk mixture into the well in the flour, add the eggs, and start kneading. Use a spatula or your hands to combine the ingredients until you have a homogeneous dough.
4. Melt the margarine (or butter) and let it cool slightly. Gradually add it, kneading well each time until the dough absorbs all the fat. This step is essential for achieving a fluffy texture.
5. Once kneaded, cover the dough with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.
#### Step 2: Preparing the Filling
1. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the ricotta (or cottage cheese) with the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Use a mixer to blend the ingredients for 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes smooth.
2. Add the raisins and gently stir with a spoon, ensuring they are evenly distributed in the filling.
#### Step 3: Shaping the Pastries
1. After the dough has risen, divide it into 18-20 equal pieces.
2. Take each piece and roll it out into a not-too-thin square.
3. In the center of each square, add 1-2 tablespoons of ricotta filling.
4. Fold the corners of the dough towards the center, forming a pouch. Make sure they are well sealed to prevent the filling from leaking during baking.
#### Step 4: Baking
1. Preheat the oven to 150-160°C. Place the pastries on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
2. Beat an egg and brush each pastry with the beaten egg for a golden and shiny crust.
3. Bake the pastries for 20-25 minutes or until they are nicely browned, checking them occasionally.
#### Step 5: Serving
1. Remove the pastries from the oven and let them cool slightly. Dust powdered sugar on top for added sweetness and an attractive appearance.
2. These pastries are delicious served warm or at room temperature and pair perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee.
### Practical Tips
- Cheese types: If you don’t have ricotta, cottage cheese is an excellent alternative, but make sure it is well drained.
- For an extra flavor, add a few drops of almond essence to the filling.
- Variations: Experiment with different fillings like chocolate, fruit jam, or ground nuts for a personalized touch.
These delicious ricotta pastries are not just a quick dessert but also a perfect way to bring joy to every meal. Try this recipe and turn your kitchen into a fairytale corner!
Let’s go back in time to those magical moments spent in front of a bakery, where the inviting aroma of pastries lured us to indulge our senses. Now, it's time to recreate that experience at home with a simple yet flavorful recipe that will remind us of those special moments.
#### Preparation time: 30 minutes
#### Rising time: 1 hour
#### Baking time: 20-25 minutes
#### Total time: 1 hour and 55 minutes
#### Servings: 18-20 pastries
### Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 kg flour
- 5 eggs
- 180 g sugar
- 2 packets dry yeast
- 350 ml milk
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 200 g margarine (or butter)
- A pinch of salt
For the filling:
- 800 g ricotta (or cottage cheese)
- 2 eggs
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1 packet vanilla
- 100 g raisins
### Instructions
#### Step 1: Preparing the Dough
1. In a large bowl, sift the flour to give it an airy texture. Add the salt and make a well in the center of the flour.
2. In a saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, yeast, and lemon zest. Heat on low until the sugar dissolves completely, being careful not to boil the mixture.
3. Pour the warm milk mixture into the well in the flour, add the eggs, and start kneading. Use a spatula or your hands to combine the ingredients until you have a homogeneous dough.
4. Melt the margarine (or butter) and let it cool slightly. Gradually add it, kneading well each time until the dough absorbs all the fat. This step is essential for achieving a fluffy texture.
5. Once kneaded, cover the dough with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.
#### Step 2: Preparing the Filling
1. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the ricotta (or cottage cheese) with the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Use a mixer to blend the ingredients for 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes smooth.
2. Add the raisins and gently stir with a spoon, ensuring they are evenly distributed in the filling.
#### Step 3: Shaping the Pastries
1. After the dough has risen, divide it into 18-20 equal pieces.
2. Take each piece and roll it out into a not-too-thin square.
3. In the center of each square, add 1-2 tablespoons of ricotta filling.
4. Fold the corners of the dough towards the center, forming a pouch. Make sure they are well sealed to prevent the filling from leaking during baking.
#### Step 4: Baking
1. Preheat the oven to 150-160°C. Place the pastries on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
2. Beat an egg and brush each pastry with the beaten egg for a golden and shiny crust.
3. Bake the pastries for 20-25 minutes or until they are nicely browned, checking them occasionally.
#### Step 5: Serving
1. Remove the pastries from the oven and let them cool slightly. Dust powdered sugar on top for added sweetness and an attractive appearance.
2. These pastries are delicious served warm or at room temperature and pair perfectly with a cup of tea or coffee.
### Practical Tips
- Cheese types: If you don’t have ricotta, cottage cheese is an excellent alternative, but make sure it is well drained.
- For an extra flavor, add a few drops of almond essence to the filling.
- Variations: Experiment with different fillings like chocolate, fruit jam, or ground nuts for a personalized touch.
These delicious ricotta pastries are not just a quick dessert but also a perfect way to bring joy to every meal. Try this recipe and turn your kitchen into a fairytale corner!