Papanasi (Romanian Fried Cheese Doughnuts)
Crisp golden doughnut rings with a soft cheesy middle, served with soured cream and sour cherry jam.
- Time40 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.45 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Beat the ricotta, quark, eggs, sugar, lemon zest and vanilla in a bowl until smooth. Stir in the flour, semolina and baking powder to make a soft, sticky dough. Rest for 10 minutes.
10 min - 2
Pour the oil into a deep, wide pan to a depth of at least 5 cm. Heat to 170C, or until a cube of bread browns in 40 seconds.
- 3
With floured hands, shape the dough into 8 balls about the size of a small egg. Press a hole through the middle of each with your thumb and widen it into a ring.
- 4
Fry 3 or 4 at a time for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until deep golden and puffed. Drain on kitchen paper.
3 min 30 s - 5
Pile 2 papanasi on each plate, spoon over the soured cream and top with the cherry jam. Serve straight away.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
