Recipe for Pasca with Shortcrust Pastry: A Holiday Delight
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 50-60 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Number of servings: 12-16 servings
Every year, during the holidays, pasca becomes one of the most beloved dishes, symbolizing joy and tradition. This shortcrust pastry pasca recipe is easy to prepare, offering a perfect combination of the light texture of cottage cheese and the inviting aroma of raisins and lemon zest. It is ideal not only for holidays but also for any special occasion.
Ingredients
For the shortcrust pastry:
- 1 egg
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 5 tablespoons yogurt
- 100 g melted butter or margarine
- 1 pinch of baking powder
- A dash of salt
- Flour (approximately 300-350 g, depending on consistency)
- 1 vanilla essence
For the filling:
- 1 kg well-drained cottage cheese
- 10 eggs
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 4 packets of vanilla sugar
- 1 rum essence
- Grated zest of one lemon
- 150 g raisins (optional, soaked in hot water with rum essence)
Preparing the Pastry
Step 1: Mixing the ingredients
In a large bowl, beat the egg with the sugar until you achieve a fluffy and light-colored mixture. Add the yogurt, melted butter, salt, vanilla essence, and the baking powder. Mix all the ingredients well.
Step 2: Adding the flour
Start adding the flour gradually, continuously mixing. It is important to achieve a consistency similar to that of a sponge cake batter, but denser, so you can work with it. The dough should not be hard but rather fluid, yet thicker than that of a sweet bread.
Step 3: Chilling the dough
Once you have the dough, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes while you prepare the filling.
Preparing the Filling
Step 4: Preparing the raisins
Put the raisins in a small bowl and pour hot water over them. Add a dash of rum essence for flavor. Let them hydrate for about 15 minutes, then drain well.
Step 5: Beating the yolks
In another bowl, beat the yolks with the sugar until creamy. This will add a natural sweetness to your filling.
Step 6: Combining the ingredients
Add the cottage cheese to the yolk mixture and mix well. Add the vanilla sugar, lemon zest, and drained raisins, then mix again.
Step 7: Beating the egg whites
In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. This will add extra fluffiness to the filling. Carefully fold the egg whites into the cheese mixture using a spatula, so you don’t lose the air in the composition.
Assembling the Pasca
Step 8: Preparing the baking pan
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a baking pan with butter and line it with parchment paper. If you wish, you can use small shapes for pasca, but make sure to grease them well.
Step 9: Filling the pan
Pour the dough into the pan, spreading it evenly. Then, add the cheese filling, using a spatula to distribute it evenly. Do not press the filling; let it settle on its own.
Step 10: Glazing
Beat a whole egg and brush it over the pasca for a golden and shiny crust.
Baking
Step 11: Baking
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the pasca for 50-60 minutes, or until it is firm and lightly browned. Check if it is baked by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean.
Serving the Pasca
Let the pasca cool completely in the pan, then cut it into slices and serve. It pairs wonderfully with a cup of fruit tea or a glass of cold lemonade. You can also accompany it with vanilla ice cream for a delicious contrast.
Practical Tips
- About the cottage cheese: Make sure the cheese is well-drained; otherwise, the filling will be too wet. You can use fresh cottage cheese or dry cottage cheese for a better texture.
- Raisins: If you don’t like raisins, you can replace them with dried apricot pieces or cranberries for a different flavor.
- Variations: You can also add dark chocolate or chopped nuts to the filling for a crunchy note.
Nutritional Benefits
This pasca is rich in protein due to the eggs and cottage cheese, providing excellent nutritional value. Additionally, the yogurt in the composition brings beneficial probiotics for digestion, while the raisins contribute fiber and antioxidants.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use another type of cheese? Yes, you can try using ricotta or mascarpone cheese, but make sure to adjust the sugar amount according to the sweetness of the cheese.
- How do I store the pasca? The pasca stores well in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, for 3-4 days. You can slightly reheat it in the oven to restore its fluffy texture.
This shortcrust pastry pasca recipe is not just a dessert but a true tradition that brings the family together. Try it and enjoy every slice!
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 50-60 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Number of servings: 12-16 servings
Every year, during the holidays, pasca becomes one of the most beloved dishes, symbolizing joy and tradition. This shortcrust pastry pasca recipe is easy to prepare, offering a perfect combination of the light texture of cottage cheese and the inviting aroma of raisins and lemon zest. It is ideal not only for holidays but also for any special occasion.
Ingredients
For the shortcrust pastry:
- 1 egg
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 5 tablespoons yogurt
- 100 g melted butter or margarine
- 1 pinch of baking powder
- A dash of salt
- Flour (approximately 300-350 g, depending on consistency)
- 1 vanilla essence
For the filling:
- 1 kg well-drained cottage cheese
- 10 eggs
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 4 packets of vanilla sugar
- 1 rum essence
- Grated zest of one lemon
- 150 g raisins (optional, soaked in hot water with rum essence)
Preparing the Pastry
Step 1: Mixing the ingredients
In a large bowl, beat the egg with the sugar until you achieve a fluffy and light-colored mixture. Add the yogurt, melted butter, salt, vanilla essence, and the baking powder. Mix all the ingredients well.
Step 2: Adding the flour
Start adding the flour gradually, continuously mixing. It is important to achieve a consistency similar to that of a sponge cake batter, but denser, so you can work with it. The dough should not be hard but rather fluid, yet thicker than that of a sweet bread.
Step 3: Chilling the dough
Once you have the dough, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes while you prepare the filling.
Preparing the Filling
Step 4: Preparing the raisins
Put the raisins in a small bowl and pour hot water over them. Add a dash of rum essence for flavor. Let them hydrate for about 15 minutes, then drain well.
Step 5: Beating the yolks
In another bowl, beat the yolks with the sugar until creamy. This will add a natural sweetness to your filling.
Step 6: Combining the ingredients
Add the cottage cheese to the yolk mixture and mix well. Add the vanilla sugar, lemon zest, and drained raisins, then mix again.
Step 7: Beating the egg whites
In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. This will add extra fluffiness to the filling. Carefully fold the egg whites into the cheese mixture using a spatula, so you don’t lose the air in the composition.
Assembling the Pasca
Step 8: Preparing the baking pan
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a baking pan with butter and line it with parchment paper. If you wish, you can use small shapes for pasca, but make sure to grease them well.
Step 9: Filling the pan
Pour the dough into the pan, spreading it evenly. Then, add the cheese filling, using a spatula to distribute it evenly. Do not press the filling; let it settle on its own.
Step 10: Glazing
Beat a whole egg and brush it over the pasca for a golden and shiny crust.
Baking
Step 11: Baking
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the pasca for 50-60 minutes, or until it is firm and lightly browned. Check if it is baked by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean.
Serving the Pasca
Let the pasca cool completely in the pan, then cut it into slices and serve. It pairs wonderfully with a cup of fruit tea or a glass of cold lemonade. You can also accompany it with vanilla ice cream for a delicious contrast.
Practical Tips
- About the cottage cheese: Make sure the cheese is well-drained; otherwise, the filling will be too wet. You can use fresh cottage cheese or dry cottage cheese for a better texture.
- Raisins: If you don’t like raisins, you can replace them with dried apricot pieces or cranberries for a different flavor.
- Variations: You can also add dark chocolate or chopped nuts to the filling for a crunchy note.
Nutritional Benefits
This pasca is rich in protein due to the eggs and cottage cheese, providing excellent nutritional value. Additionally, the yogurt in the composition brings beneficial probiotics for digestion, while the raisins contribute fiber and antioxidants.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use another type of cheese? Yes, you can try using ricotta or mascarpone cheese, but make sure to adjust the sugar amount according to the sweetness of the cheese.
- How do I store the pasca? The pasca stores well in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, for 3-4 days. You can slightly reheat it in the oven to restore its fluffy texture.
This shortcrust pastry pasca recipe is not just a dessert but a true tradition that brings the family together. Try it and enjoy every slice!