Savory cheese verenikas

By Feigie Ceitlin

Shavuot is a Jewish holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. One of our family’s (and community’s) favorite traditions on this holiday is eating dairy foods such as cheese.

One explanation for it is that it symbolizes the sweetness and richness of the Torah, which is often compared to milk and honey. Another interpretation is that the numerical value of the Hebrew word for milk, “chalav,” is 40, which is the number of days Moses spent on Mount Sinai receiving the Torah.

Additionally, it is said that the Israelites received the laws of kashrut (kosher dietary laws) on Shavuot, and eating dairy foods was the quickest way to satisfy their appetite versus the lengthier process of preparing meat.

One of our family’s favorite dishes is the half moon-shaped cheese verenikas. Also called Varenyky, it is a dumpling that is central to the Ukrainian culinary tradition. While they can be prepared in different ways, we like them fried, as the savory version of the more known sweet cheese blintzes.

INGREDIENTS:

For the dough:

1 and 3/4 cups of flour

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoon oil

3 tablespoons water

For the cheese filling:

2 cups cottage cheese

1 egg

Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, egg, water, and salt. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic.

2. In a separate mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix until everything is well combined.

3. Roll the dough out on a floured surface until it is about 1/8 inch thick.

4. Use a small cookie cutter or glass to cut out circles of dough.

5. Place a small spoonful of the cheese filling in the center of each circle of dough.

6. Fold the dough over to form a half-moon shape, and press the edges together to seal.

7. Heat frying pan low medium butter the pan, place verenikas in the pan until crispy 3-5 minutes and then flip to the other side.

8. Serve the cheese verenikas hot, topped with a dollop of sour cream and some chopped fresh dill.

Enjoy and happy Shavuot!

* The blessing: Mezonot

Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei minei mezonot. Blessed are you L-rd our G d, King of the Universe, Who creates various kinds of sustenance.

Enjoy!