Verenika

Verenika recipe for cheese-filled dumplings served with ham and cream gravy. These old-fashioned comfort food dumplings are filled with a blend of cottage cheese, eggs, and black pepper.

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 127 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ cup water
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ cups warm milk
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ⅓ cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 2 ½ cups dry cottage cheese
• 4 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup cubed ham
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine cottage cheese, 2 eggs, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth; set filling aside.

Step 2

Stir together flour, milk powder, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Beat together 2 eggs, water, and oil in a small bowl; combine with flour mixture until smooth.

Step 3

Knead dough on a floured surface until smooth, about 10 times. Divide dough in half and roll out each portion to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out rounds of dough with a 4-inch round cutter.

Step 4

Place 1 tablespoon cottage cheese filling in the center of each dough round. Moisten the edges and fold over to form a half-moon shape; pinch to seal.

Step 5

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1/2 of the dumplings and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon to a plate. Cook remaining dumplings.

Step 6

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in ham; cook until ham is light brown. Stir in 3 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Pour in milk all at once; cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Serve gravy over dumplings.