This Placinte Recipe comes from a Moldavian woman who shared the recipe with my mom years back. Placinte are round cheese-filled fried pastries.
My mother has made these so many times and they’ve even got requested! There is no yeast involved so rising time is not needed. Fill this with apples, cabbage or other soft cheeses.The feta and Mozzarella filling is my favorite and if your concerned about the saltiness, I have a little tip down below in how to mellow out the salt from feta cheese. These are a favorite!
What is Placinte?
Placinte is a round flat bread that is commonly stuffed with cheese. It is typically leavened with baking soda or baking powder and contains no yeast. It is recognized in the Romanian, Ukrainian and Moldovan Culture.
What is Brinza?
My family used to call these Brinza, but after a Moldavian friend told me Brinza means Feta Cheese, that changed in how I call these now. Placinte would be the correct named for these cheese-filled cakes.
Whats the best way to re-heat placinte?
Placinte are best fresh. However, to maintain a crisp crust re-heat in a toaster oven for the best results.
How to make Feta Cheese Less Saltier:
Remove feta cheese from the brine and soak in milk for 24 hours.
Placinta Fillings:
- apples
- cheese
- cabbage
- potatoes
- ricotta
- dill
- raisins
- Chocolate
Ingredients for Placinte Recipe:
How to make Placinte Recipe (Moldavian Brinza):
1. In a large bowl, whisk together 3 1/2 cups of flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Then stir in the egg, buttermilk, milk and 3 tbsp of oil until dough comes together (dough should be tacky.) Knead in remaining 1/2 cup of flour until a soft dough forms.
2. Next, divide the dough into 8 balls, using a 1/2 cup measuring scoop for even shapes.
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough to a 9″ circle. Place 1 cup of the cheese blend in the center and fold in the edges, pinching them to the top. Gently roll out again to an 8″ circle and fry over med-low heat until golden (about 2 min on each side.)
Placinte Recipe (Brinza)
Ingredients
Placinte dough:
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 1/2 cup canola oil or any oil for frying
Placinte Cheese Filling:
- 3 cups feta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese finely shredded
Instructions
How to make Placinta:
- In a large bowl, whisk together 4 cups of flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the egg, buttermilk, milk, and 3 tbsp of oil until dough comes together. Knead in the remaining 1/2 cup of flour gradually until a soft dough forms.
- Divide the dough into 8 balls, using a 1/2 cup measuring scoop for even shapes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough to a 9" circle. Place 1 cup of the cheese blend in the center and fold in the edges, pinching them to the top. Gently roll out again to an 8" circle and fry over med-low heat until golden (about 2 min on each side.)
