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Kemalpaşa tatlısı
Cheese dumplings in syrup
Kemalpaşa tatlısı: Bursa's little cheese dumplings soaked in lemony syrup
Named after the town of Mustafakemalpaşa near Bursa, these small golden rounds are made from a soft unsalted cheese, semolina and flour, baked dry and then simmered in syrup until they swell and soak it up like sponges. In Bursa they are eaten after a plate of İskender, warm with a spoon of clotted cream or a scattering of pistachio. They are lighter than they look, with a faint cheesy tang under the sweetness. Chef's tip: let the syrup cool to lukewarm and the dumplings be at room temperature; if both are hot the dumplings collapse into mush.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the dumplings
- 9 oz unsalted fresh cheese (lor or ricotta)well drained
- 2 eggs
- 2 ⅞ oz fine semolina
- 4 oz plain flour
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
For the syrup
- 14 oz granulated sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
To serve
- 5 ½ oz clotted cream (kaymak) (optional)
- 1 oz pistachios (optional)finely chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Boil 14 oz granulated sugar and 2 cups water for 10 minutes, add 1 tbsp lemon juice and leave the syrup to cool until just lukewarm.
10 minStep 2: Mash 9 oz unsalted fresh cheese (lor or ricotta) smooth with a fork, then beat in 2 eggs, 2 ⅞ oz fine semolina, 1 tbsp caster sugar, 4 oz plain flour and 1 tsp baking powder to a soft, slightly sticky dough. Rest it for 15 minutes so the semolina swells.
15 minStep 3: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). With oiled hands roll walnut-sized balls, flatten each to a thick 4 cm disc and set on a lined tray.
Step 4: Bake for 20–25 minutes, until pale golden and dry underneath. Cool them on the tray for 15 minutes.
25 minStep 5: Bring the syrup back to a gentle simmer, add the dumplings and poach for 8–10 minutes, until they swell and look translucent at the edges. Common mistake: boiling hard; they break apart.
10 minStep 6: Leave them in the syrup for 1 hour to soak. Serve warm or at room temperature with 5 ½ oz clotted cream (kaymak) and 1 oz pistachios.
60 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 66 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kemalpaşa tatlısı take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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