The aperitif is an essential moment of every day – especially on the weekend, when the working has finally come to an end. Now that we've learned how to prepare them at home, we've tried our hand at different recipes for new delicacies to keep the menu fresh! So – why not give these cheese donuts a try?
Read on for this particular Umbrian recipe. For alternative cheese combinations and info on how to store them properly, browse the photo gallery above!
The Recipe: Umbrian Cheese Donuts
Ingredients:
1 lb flour, 1 oz brewer's yeast, 9 oz mixed cheese, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 1 egg yolk, Warm water, Salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
Add 4 oz flour to a large bowl. In the meantime, dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water with the sugar. Once dissolved, add it to the flour, pouring it slowly over the surface. Work the dough with a fork for a sticky yet soft mixture. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for an hour.
Add the remaining flour and salt to another large bowl. Then add the leavened dough. Work the ingredients together with your hands, adding warm water by hand. Transfer the dough to the pastry board and continue working it with your hands until smooth and compact. Form a ball shape and transfer it to a bowl greased with oil. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest in a warm place for another hour.
In the meantime, prepare the mixed cheeses. (Emmental, pecorino and even Parmigiano work well.) Grate and leave some pieces a little larger in chunks.
After the dough risen for an hour, transfer it again onto the pastry board and work it for a few more minutes, adding 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Then add the grated cheeses, little by little. The dough should be uniform and compact.
Now portion out five sections of the dough and shape them into a fillet using your hands. Form the shape of a ring with each section and transfer to a baking sheet greased with oil, spaced out and brushed with egg yolk.
Pre-heat the oven to 400°F while the donuts are resting for a few more minutes. Then bake them for about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven once golden-brown and serve hot.