Zagorje Cheese Štrukli
( Zagorske štrukle)
From The Best of Croatian
Cooking by Liliana Pavicic and Gordon Pinker-Mosher.
"This is a famous Croatian appetizer from the Zagorje region. It is
quite satisfying and filling so don't eat too much, unless of course
you are serving it as a main dish.
Serves 8 to 10
5 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
5 eggs
1 tablespoon cooking oil
pinch of salt
2 1/2 pounds dry curd cottage cheese or ricotta
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
4 cups heavy cream
In a large mixing bowl make a dough from the flour, 1 egg, the oil
and a small
amount of salted water. Keep kneading the dough, either in the bowl
or on a floured surface, until bubbles start to form and dough
becomes smooth. Then shape the dough into a ball. Coat the surface
with cooking spray, cover with a clean dishtowel and let stand about
15 minutes.
While the dough is resting, make the filling: Mix the cheese with
the remaining 4 eggs
in a mixing bowl. Add salt and 1/2 cup of melted butter. Blend until
the mixture is
smooth. Sprinkle a large work surface such as a kitchen table with
flour. Roll out the dough to paper-thin thickness. Then spread out
the cheese mixture evenly over dough. Brush the dough with 1/2 cup
melted butter. Roll up, jelly-roll fashion.
Cut the roll into 20 pieces (the cutting is traditionally done with
the rim of a plate).
Boil the štrukle in boiling salted water for about 10 minutes. Drain
and arrange in a greased ovenproof dish. Preheat oven to 400°. Pour
the remaining ˝ cup butter over the štrukle and top with cream. Bake
for 20 to 30 minutes until golden.
Double the recipe and freeze štrukle after boiling them. Prior to
baking, thaw slightly, place in ovenproof dish and top with butter
and cream and then bake.
Buy low-fat cottage cheese. Use light butter and evaporated 2% or
skim milk in place of cream."