Tender Scones with Cracklings

To prepare these delicious pogăcele with cracklings, we start by preparing the necessary ingredients. We will need 600 grams of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, 4 egg yolks, 160 grams of ground cracklings, 200 grams of lard, and 400 ml of sour cream. Additionally, 30 grams of fresh yeast will be dissolved in 50 ml of lukewarm water, which is essential to help the dough rise.

The first step is to pass the cracklings through the meat grinder, using the medium sieve, to achieve the right consistency without grinding them too finely. In a large bowl, we combine the flour with the salt, then add the egg yolks, ground cracklings, soft lard, and sour cream. Once the yeast has completely dissolved in the lukewarm water, we add it to the mixture above. We start kneading the dough with our hands until it becomes homogeneous.

After obtaining a uniform dough, we sprinkle flour on the work surface and take the dough out of the bowl. It’s time to release our stress by slamming the dough onto the work surface about 10 times. This method not only helps create better structures but also makes the process faster.

After releasing our energy, we sprinkle a little flour on the surface again and roll out the dough into a rectangular or square shape, to a thickness of about one finger. We proceed to fold the dough: we bring the side towards us to the center, and then cover it with the opposite side. Then, we fold the right and left sides towards the center. It is important to repeat this folding and rolling process 3 times, and on the fourth rolling, we leave the dough at a thickness of 2 fingers.

To give a nice appearance to the pogăcele, we make a few incisions on the surface with a sharp knife, then cut out the desired shapes. We place the pogăcele on trays, letting them rise for about 1 hour and a half. During this time, we prepare the oven, which we turn on 15 minutes before putting in the trays. We brush the pogăcele with a beaten egg to achieve a golden and appetizing crust.

Once the oven is preheated, we bake the pogăcele at high heat for 5 minutes, then reduce the temperature by half and continue baking until they turn golden and have a well-baked base. When we see they are ready, we take them out of the oven and let them cool a bit. Then, we serve these delicacies with great pleasure, which are perfect to enjoy with loved ones. Enjoy your meal!