Farmer's Cheese Dumplings (Traditional Lithuanian Gnocchi)
Discover the simplicity of making Varškės Virtinukai, Lithuania's delightful sweet Farmer's Cheese Dumplings. With just a few basic ingredients, including the key component, Lithuanian farmer's cheese, these "lazy dumplings" are effortlessly mixed, shaped, and boiled to perfection. Ideal for a sweet breakfast or a savory lunch (with a few adjustments), these dumplings promise a taste of Lithuanian comfort food that's easy to prepare and versatile to serve.
Ingredients
- 90-120 g (¾-1 cup) all-purpose flour*
- 1 egg medium
- 200 g (7 oz) farmer cheese full- or half-fat
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- pinch of salt
- 20 g (1½ tbsp) butter
- 2 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the farmers cheese, egg, sugar and a pinch of salt.
- Gradually add the flour until you have a soft dough that doesn't stick to your hands much (you may need more or less flour depending on how dry your farmer cheese is).
- On a lightly floured surface, using the palms of your hands, roll the dough into strings about 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter. Cut the string into small pieces the size of your thumb nail.
- Add the dumplings into boiling water and gently boil until the dumplings float on the surface. Then keep on cooking them over medium heat for another 2 minutes.
- In the meantime, make the sauce by melting butter in a separate saucepan. Add the sour cream and mix.
- Add the cooked farmer's cheese dumplings to the sauce and mix gently to coat.
- Place the dumplings in a shallow bowl and sprinkle them with sugar before serving.
Notes
*The amount of flour needed will depend on how dry your farmer's cheese is as well as the size of your egg. Add just enough flour to form a soft dough that doesn't stick to your hands. You will also need extra flour for dusting.