Introduction
Introducing a unique addition to your Easter menu – a sweet, egg and milk based dish from North-East Hungary that might resemble cheese at first glance, but is in fact quite different. Traditionally prepared for Easter Sunday when food is taken to the church for blessing, this dish is similar to a solid, mild custard made with eggs and it breaks into slabs rather than crumble. Pair it with savory smoked ham and Easter bread for a surprisingly pleasant flavour combination.
Ingredients: (2-3 servings)
- 500 millilitre (2.1 cups) milk – full cream is best
- 5 medium eggs [one egg for each 100 millilitre of milk]
- 1 tablespoon of sultanas (optional)
- grated zest of 0.5 lemon (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extracts
- pinch of salt
- 2-3 level tablespoons of granulated sugar
Method
- Break the eggs in a bowl, beat with a fork slightly until the yolks brake but not thoroughly mixed.
- Begin to warm the milk with a pinch of salt, sugar and the optional lemon zest.
- Add the eggs to the warm milk and cook slowly stirring trying the keep the chunky texture. After about 10 minutes on low heat the dish will separate into the cooked eggs and clear milk whey. Watch it carefully as it can burn easily. Fold in the sultanas last if using.
- Transfer the curdled eggy milk into a sieve lined with a cheesecloth or tea towel. Let it strain of liquids and cool somewhat then gather the sides of the cloth and wring out as much of the remaining liquid as can.
- Make a knot and hang the “Cheese” to drip for a few hours at a cool place, then refrigerated until use.
- Cut neat slices and serve with ham and Easter bread.
ty for sharing!
my mother loved a dish that was made in a cast iron frying pan. it was made with butter, farina and don’t know what else but it tasted like ground nuts even though there weren’t any nuts in the recipe. hope you know what i am describing. my mother was born in 1912 so this goes way back.
ty for reading,
joanna
Toasted/fried farina (cream of wheat), in butter, maybe a pinch of sugar for taste, over buttered noodles was always a favorite, especially on meatless Fridays. Toasting the farina does make it taste a bit like ground nuts.
ty, john. will try that.
What is sultanas?
The sultana is a “white”, oval seedless grape variety also called the sultanina, Thompson Seedless, Lady de Coverly, and oval-fruited Kishmish. It is also known as İzmir üzümü in Turkey since this variety has been extensively grown in the region around İzmir.
What can you do with the whey?
Use it for the liquid in a rustic no-knead bread.