Name: Ukrainian Vareniki with Meat and Cheese Sauce - Slow-Fermented Dough
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Ukrainian
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp active dry yeast; 1 cup ricotta cheese; 1/4 cup sour cream; 1/4 cup butter; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1/2 lb ground beef; 1/2 onion, finely chopped; 1/2 cup milk; 1/4 cup flour; 1/4 tsp paprika

A hearty Ukrainian dish of dumplings filled with ricotta and topped with a rich meat and cheese sauce, made with a slow-fermented dough for enhanced flavor and texture.

Method

In a bowl, mix flour, salt, and yeast. Gradually add water and knead for 10 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours until doubled in size.
Roll out the dough and cut into small circles. Fill each with ricotta cheese and sour cream mixture.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the vareniki for 3-4 minutes until they float.
In a separate pan, cook ground beef and onion until browned. Add milk, flour, paprika, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Serve the vareniki with the meat and cheese sauce on top.
Check that the ground meat reaches 71°C (160°F) throughout before serving.