Papanași

Papanași is a traditional Romanian dessert. The name comes from the Romanian word papana, which means "doughnut". The dessert is typically made from a sweet cheese dough that is fried or boiled, then filled with a sweet or sour fruit preserve and topped with sour cream and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Ingredients

The main ingredients in Papanași are sweet cheese, flour, eggs, sugar, and baking powder. The dough is typically flavored with vanilla or lemon zest. The filling is usually a fruit preserve, such as strawberry jam, blueberry jam, or sour cherry jam. The dessert is topped with sour cream and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Preparation

To prepare Papanași, the sweet cheese, flour, eggs, sugar, and baking powder are mixed together to form a dough. The dough is then shaped into small balls or rings, which are fried or boiled until golden brown. The cooked Papanași are filled with the fruit preserve, then topped with sour cream and powdered sugar.

Variations

There are several variations of Papanași. Some recipes use cottage cheese or ricotta cheese instead of sweet cheese. Others use different types of fruit preserves for the filling. There are also variations in the shape of the Papanași, with some being round like doughnuts and others being shaped like small dumplings.

Cultural Significance

Papanași is a popular dessert in Romania and is often served at special occasions and celebrations. It is also a common offering at Romanian restaurants and bakeries.

See Also

• Romanian cuisine
• List of doughnut varieties
• List of desserts