This is a Russian dish. This is very popular with children but is a very simple tasting, delicious dish. I couldn't find a recipe online, so here it is. Please try it and let me know how it turned out for you. This recipe yields enough for 6 servings, or 4 greedy servings.
Ingredients:
For the Farmer's Cheese:
4 Litres whole fat milk (3.25% fat)
500 ml whipping cream (33% fat)
3-4 cups of yoghurt OR 3-4 tbsp lime/lemon juice
1 egg
4 tbsp flour
4 tbsp sugar
Cheesecloth for straining the farmer's cheese
Strainer
For the Kissel:
2 cups of berries or grapes (any berry will do. we like blue berries. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, anything will work)
1.5 cups sugar
4 cups water
4 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 4 tbsp cold water
Zapekanka
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
1. Boil the milk and the whipping cream together.
2. Add the yoghurt OR lime juice to the milk. Keep stirring after adding this, and wait and watch for the milk to separate into curds and whey. If the colour of the whey isn't clear, add some more yoghurt OR lime juice.
Yoghurt makes a very soft cheese. Lime juice makes a slightly more squeaky, slightly tougher cheese.
3. Strain the cheese by pouring the above through a strainer lined with cheese cloth. Tie this cheese cloth at the top to strain the liquids. Let the cheese drain for 10 minutes or so.
4. If you have a food processor or mixer, great. If not, that's great too. We will have to spend 10 or 20 minutes kneading the cheese. The texture of the cheese changes significantly after this kneading process. You will see. The fresh farmer's cheese is crumbly and the kneaded cheese is soft and holds together very well.
Knead the cheese and stop when you don't feel like kneading anymore... knead at least 10 minutes though.
5. Mix the eggs, sugar and flour into the cheese. Mix it very well.
6. Pour into a buttered, square baking pan. Level the mixture and dot with butter. Bake for 40 minutes.
7. Let the Zapekanka cool for 30 minutes.
Kissel
1. Puree the berry or grapes. Set aside.
2. Pour the sugar and water in a pot, mix well. Bring to a boil.
3. Strain the berry puree well and add to the boiling sugar-water.
4. Mix together the cornstarch and cold water. Pour into the boiling sugar-water. Stir thoroughly.
5. Let the mixture come to a boil, let it thicken. Turn off the heat.
6. Cool the kissel.
How to serve
The Kissel has to be cooled (in the fridge).
Cut a portion of the warm Zapekanka and put it in a bowl. Pour the cool Kissel till it covers the Zapekanka. For 1/4th of the Zapekanka, you will use 1 cup of Kissel.
Very Very Very Yummy!
