Lazy Varenyky Recipe with Cottage Cheese
Soft boiled Ukrainian curd dumplings formed from cottage cheese, egg and flour.
Lazy varenyky have the flavor of cottage-cheese dumplings without individually filled wrappers. The original recipe uses 500 grams of tvorog, two eggs and up to one and a half cups of flour. Moisture in the curd changes how much flour you need; drain a wet cottage cheese first, then add flour gradually so the dumplings stay tender. Stir in the small amount of sugar, salt and optional vanilla sugar, roll the soft dough into ropes and cut short pieces. Drop them into gently boiling water in batches and stir once to prevent sticking. When they rise, cook a little longer until the centers are set. Drain and coat lightly with butter before serving.
Recipe card
Lazy Varenyky Recipe with Cottage Cheese
Equipment: Mixing bowl, large pot, slotted spoon
Ingredients
Instructions
Drain and mix
Drain wet curd cheese, then combine with eggs, sugar, salt and optional vanilla.
Add flour
Mix flour in gradually until a soft dough can be rolled without falling apart.
Shape
Divide into ropes on a lightly floured surface and cut small diagonal dumplings.
Boil
Add to gently boiling water in batches, stir once and cook 2–3 minutes after they float until centers are set.
Serve
Drain with a slotted spoon, coat with a little butter and serve warm.
How to tell when it is ready
Dumplings float and middle is cooked, soft rather than floury.
Tips
- Drain wet curd.
- Add flour gradually.
- Cut similar-size pieces.
- Boil gently in batches.
Troubleshooting
- If dough falls apart, add a little more flour.
- If dumplings are tough, use less flour next time and drain curds first.
Substitutions
- Use well-drained cottage cheese if tvorog is unavailable.
- Use regular vanilla extract instead of optional vanilla sugar.
Variations
- Omit sugar for a savory version.
- Add a little lemon zest for a brighter sweet batch.
Serving suggestions
- Coat with butter.
- Top with sour cream.
- Add berries.
- Serve with a little jam.
Make ahead
Prepare ingredients ahead and keep perishable items cold until cooking or serving.
Storage
Refrigerate cooked dumplings covered up to 2 days; reheat briefly in simmering water.
Food safety
Keep curd and eggs refrigerated before use and cook dumplings until centers set.
Frequently asked questions
How long do lazy varenyky cook?
About 2–3 minutes after they float, until the center is no longer raw.
How should I store lazy cottage cheese varenyky?
Refrigerate cooked dumplings covered up to 2 days; reheat briefly in simmering water.
Spoon them from the pot straight into warm butter.
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