Semolina and Cheese Pastry in Syrup

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Sugar Syrup

1. 1
   Bring the sugar and water to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer 5 minutes, until the sugar melts and the syrup thickens slightly.

   ⚙ SimmeringStove

   💡A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.
2. 2
   Add the lemon juice.

   💡The lemon keeps the sugar from crystallizing again.

To assemble

1. 3
   Mix the semolina with the melted butter and the boiling water, and let stand for 10 minutes.

   Bowl
2. 4
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F) and grease a round pan.

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
3. 5
   Put half the semolina in the pan and press into an even layer.

   Round pan
4. 6
   Spread the cheese filling on top and cover with a second layer of semolina.
5. 7
   Bake 25–30 minutes, until the top of the pastry turns golden.

   ⚙ BakingOvenRound pan

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
6. 8
   Pour the hot syrup over the hot pastry, straight from the oven, and serve warm.