Papanasi in the Air Fryer
Crispy Romanian cheese doughnuts with a light, fluffy centre of drained curd cheese, lemon zest and vanilla. In the air fryer they turn golden without any deep frying, then get topped with cool crème fraîche and tangy sour cherry jam.
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Sieve For draining the cheese
- 1 Grater For lemon zest
- 1 Parchment paper (for air fryer)
- 1 Brush
Ingredients
- 500 g cottage cheese Thoroughly drained. Can be replaced with quark or dry curd cheese (brânză de vaci)
- 2 pcs eggs
- 150 g wheat flour Plus a little extra for your hands
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp vanilla sugar
- 1 pcs lemon Just the grated zest
- 1 pinch salt
For brushing
- 2 tbsp butter Melted
Topping
- 2 dl crème fraîche 18%
- 150 g sour cherry jam Or blueberry jam
- 1 tbsp icing sugar For dusting
Instructions
Preparation
- Put 500 g cottage cheese in a sieve over a bowl, and press out the liquid with the back of a spoon. The cheese needs to be as dry as possible, or the dough will be too soft to shape.
- Put the drained cheese in a mixing bowl with 2 pcs eggs, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tsp vanilla sugar and 1 pinch salt. Stir together into a smooth, lump-free mixture.
- Finely grate the zest from 1 pcs lemon, and stir it into the cheese mixture. Only use the outer yellow part of the peel, so the dough doesn't turn bitter.
- Sift 150 g wheat flour and 1 tsp baking powder into the bowl, and fold it in gently. The dough should be soft, but just firm enough to roll in your hands.
- Cover the bowl, and place the dough in the fridge for 20 minutes. The chilled dough holds its shape far better in the air fryer than the freshly mixed one.
- Divide the dough into four equal pieces. Take a small piece from each one, and roll it into a ball about the size of a walnut. Shape the rest into a ring roughly 10 cm in diameter with a clear hole in the middle. Use a little flour on your hands as you go.
Cooking in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 175°C.
- Line the basket with baking paper, and arrange the rings and balls with plenty of space between them. Brush them with 2 tbsp butter, so they turn golden with a crisp surface.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes at 175°C. Turn them carefully after 7 minutes, and take the balls out 2-3 minutes before the rings, as they finish faster. They're ready when golden and easily lift off the baking paper.
Serving
- Place a warm ring on each plate, and spoon 2 dl crème fraîche and 150 g sour cherry jam on top. Add a ball on top, dust with 1 tbsp icing sugar, and serve immediately while still warm.
Notes
Tips for perfect results:
The cheese needs to be thoroughly drained. Too much liquid makes the dough sticky, and the rings will collapse in the basket. If you're using quark or dry curd cheese, it can go straight into the bowl without draining. The air fryer version turns out lighter than the deep-fried original, but more evenly golden. Variation:
Swap the sour cherry jam for blueberry, blackcurrant or elderberry jam. A little grated orange zest in the dough gives a rounder sweetness, and a tablespoon of coarsely chopped walnuts on top adds crunch. Serving:
Serve them warm as a dessert with strong coffee. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side for a more generous dessert. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can make the dish in two batches. The rings need space between them, or they'll bake together.
The cheese needs to be thoroughly drained. Too much liquid makes the dough sticky, and the rings will collapse in the basket. If you're using quark or dry curd cheese, it can go straight into the bowl without draining. The air fryer version turns out lighter than the deep-fried original, but more evenly golden. Variation:
Swap the sour cherry jam for blueberry, blackcurrant or elderberry jam. A little grated orange zest in the dough gives a rounder sweetness, and a tablespoon of coarsely chopped walnuts on top adds crunch. Serving:
Serve them warm as a dessert with strong coffee. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side for a more generous dessert. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can make the dish in two batches. The rings need space between them, or they'll bake together.
