Cheese Pies - my mother-in-law recipe

Elena Butuc

I knew a few pie recipes, but once my mother-in-law taught me her method, it felt like I forgot all the others. For months, I've made only these pies. My husband often asks if I can make pies like his mother, and honestly, I couldn't until I learned from her. Now, I make them perfectly.

These pies are delicious, they melt in your mouth, and use simple, basic ingredients. Attention to detail is crucial, especially for beginners. Follow the steps carefully, and I promise these pies will impress everyone.

You'll need a large kitchen table and a cotton towel dedicated to these pies, slightly larger than the table. I use a cotton tablecloth that hasn't been used for anything else.

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Ingredients

Metric US

●

White flour

400 g

●

Salt

1 tsp

●

Sunflower oil

5 tbsp

for dough

●

Farmers cheese

500 g

●

Egg

6 pieces

●

Green onions

3 pieces

●

Feta Cheese

300 g

●

Sunflower oil

300 ml

for working the pies

Step by step

Step 1

In a bowl, combine flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 5 tablespoons oil.

Warm about 1-2 cups of water for the dough.

Cheese Pies - my mother-in-law recipe - Step 1

Step 2

Gradually add the warm water to the flour mixture and knead until you get a soft, non-sticky dough.

Step 3

Next, transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead a bit more.

Cover with a towel and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Cheese Pies - my mother-in-law recipe - Step 3

Step 4

After 15 minutes, knead it well on a floured surface until it is smooth and uniform. Notice the difference between step 3 and step 4 images.

Step 5

If you have a kitchen table of at least 1 square meter, divide the dough into 2 balls. If your table is smaller, divide it into 3 balls instead.

I have a 1sqm table, so I made 2 balls.

Let the dough rest for another 10 minutes.

Cheese Pies - my mother-in-law recipe - Step 5

Step 6

Roll out the dough balls to about 3-4 mm thick, grease them well with oil, and leave them for another 10 minutes.

Step 7

In the meantime, prepare the cheese filling. Mix the cottage cheese with 5 eggs, salt (about 1 tablespoon, the filling should be well-salted), and finely chopped green or white onions (optional).

The cheese mixture should be slightly runny. If your cheese is too dry and 5 eggs aren't sufficient, add more until you get the desired consistency.

Cheese Pies - my mother-in-law recipe - Step 7

Step 8

Spread the towel on the kitchen table, take one of the oiled sheets, and spread it lightly. If needed, stretch it slightly with your hands, then place it on the towel and gently pull the edges until it's very thin, and you can see the towel through it, giving it an oval shape, about the size of the table.

Take your time; the process is wonderfully calming.

Cheese Pies - my mother-in-law recipe - Step 8

Step 9

Brush the dough sheet with oil evenly, then spread half of the cheese mixture across the entire surface.

Step 10

Grate half of the Feta (or sheep) cheese over the pie evenly using a large grater.

Step 11

Lift one side of the towel, gently shaking the edges to start rolling, then lift until the roll reaches the middle of the table/sheet.

Step 12

Repeat the rolling process with the opposite side of the towel. Notice in the picture how the two rolls meet each other.

Step 13

Bring the rolls closer together and cut off a small portion of the ends, as the dough is thicker and not filled.

Step 14

Cut the rolls into 3-4 pieces, to fit the width of the baking tray. Here you can see how I determine the cutting size based on the tray dimensions.

Grease the pan with a little oil and place the rolls inside.

Cheese Pies - my mother-in-law recipe - Step 14

Step 15

From one pie sheet, I cut it into 3 pieces, totaling 6 smaller rolls for a full tray.

Step 16

With all the pie sheets, you'll have 2 trays of rolls. Beat an egg and brush the pies thoroughly with it. Bake at medium heat.

Step 17

Bake until golden brown, then remove from the oven and let cool in the tray for 15 minutes.

Step 18

Flip the tray over and transfer the pies onto a platter. Allow them to cool slightly, then separate and cut into medium-sized pieces, as preferred.

Step 19

These pies are delightful both warm and cold, or reheated in the microwave for a minute.

Don't worry if they don’t turn out perfectly the first time. My initial attempt wasn't flawless either, I used cold water, and the dough wouldn't stretch. Just follow the steps, and it'll be worth the effort. Once you get the hang of it, you'll gain speed and skill.

You can also try fillings like mashed boiled potatoes with Feta and sautéed onions, or minced chicken with onion, mixed with eggs, sour cream, salt, and pepper. These variations turned out great for me.

Enjoy!