Struklji

Struklji

Yield 8 SERVINGS

Ingredients

The dough:

• ½ cup hot tap water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt, if desired
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

The filling:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 4 eggs
• 1 pound dry cottage cheese
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• Salt to taste, if desired

The topping:

• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 4 tablespoons butter

Preparation

• Step 1

  To make the dough, place the hot water in a small bowl and add the butter to the water to melt. With a fork, blend in the egg and salt.
• Step 2

  Place the flour in a separate mixing bowl. Make a well in the flour and pour in the liquid mixture. Blend and knead until the resulting dough is smooth and elastic. Cover and allow to rest in a draft-free place for about 30 minutes.
• Step 3

  Meanwhile, prepare the filling by melting the butter in an 8-inch saucepan and browning the bread crumbs in it. Remove from the heat, add the eggs and stir until they have completely scrambled.
• Step 4

  Combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, parsley and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the egg mixture and mix well.
• Step 5

  Roll the dough on a lightly floured board into a rectangle about 12 inches by 18 inches. Spread the filling over the dough and roll it, starting at its long side, into a tight roll, much like a jellyroll.
• Step 6

  Place the roll on a clean white cloth or a double thickness of cheesecloth large enough to cover it. Wrap the roll in the cloth and tie the ends with string, sausage fashion.
• Step 7

  Coil the roll into a circle and drop it into a large pot of boiling salted water. Simmer for 40 minutes, then carefully lift it from the pot. Unwrap the roll and keep it warm.
• Step 8

  For the topping, saute bread crumbs in butter until golden brown. Slice the struklji into pieces 2 inches thick and top with the buttered crumbs.