Let’s dive into the heart of Lithuanian cuisine with a delightful dish: Potato Dumplings, locally known as Švilpikai, with creamy cottage cheese. These dumplings are surprisingly simple to make, and they turn out incredibly tender and flavorful. It’s comfort food at its finest!
Ingredients (Serves 4):
- 5 medium potatoes, boiled in their skins
- 200g cottage cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon potato starch
- Salt, to taste
Extras:
- A bit of flour for dusting
- Butter, for sautéing
- Green onions, chopped
- Fresh dill, chopped
Instructions:
- First, boil your potatoes until they’re tender. Once they’ve cooled down, peel them and mash them well. You can use a potato masher or grate them on a coarse grater.
- In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, egg, salt, flour, and potato starch. Mix everything thoroughly until you have a smooth, uniform dough.
- Lightly flour your work surface. Take small portions of the dough, gently roll them out, and cut them into diamond shapes, similar to gnocchi.
- Arrange the dumplings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 25 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and slightly crispy.
- Melt some butter in a skillet. Add the baked dumplings, sprinkle with chopped green onions and dill, and sauté for a few more minutes until everything is fragrant and delicious.
Serve Potato Dumplings (Švilpikai) with Cottage Cheese hot, and get ready for a burst of cozy, comforting flavors!
These dumplings are incredibly versatile. You can experiment with different herbs and spices, or even add a dollop of sour cream on top for extra richness. They’re a perfect side dish or a light meal on their own. Enjoy!