Cheese Sambusak - Fried Stuffed Pastry

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Wrapping Dough

1. 1
   In a bowl, mix the flour, salt and yeast.

   Bowl
2. 2
   Add the oil, the egg and the water and Knead about 5 minutes, until you get a smooth, soft dough that doesn't stick to your hands.

   ⚙ KneadingBowlStand mixer

   💡If the dough sticks, add a tablespoon of flour; if it crumbles, a tablespoon of water. Good dough is as soft as an earlobe.
3. 3
   Cover and let the dough rest 30 minutes at room temperature.

For the Pastry Filling

1. 4
   In a bowl, mix the Bulgarian cheese, egg and parsley, and season with black pepper.

   Bowl

To assemble

1. 5
   Roll out the dough thin, to 2–3 mm, and cut into into rounds of about 10 cm.

   ⚙ Rolling Out DoughRolling pinKnife

   💡Roll from the center outward and give the dough a quarter turn between rolls: this keeps it even in thickness and stops it sticking to the counter. If it springs back, cover for 10–15 minutes and try again.
2. 6
   Place a spoonful of cooled filling in the center of each piece, fold into half-moons and seal the edges well with a fork.

   💡Seal well and press with a fork all along the edges, and don't overfill: a pastry that opens in the oven loses its filling, and in the fryer it fills with oil.
3. 7
   Heat the oil in a deep pot to 175°C (345°F) and Fry 3–4 minutes per side, until the pastries are golden and crisp.

   ⚙ Deep-fryingStoveSlotted spoonCandy/oil thermometerDeep pot for frying

   💡Keep the oil at 170–180°C (340–355°F): too cold, and the food soaks up oil; too hot, and it browns outside before the inside cooks. Without a thermometer, dip the tip of a wooden spoon in the oil: when medium bubbles form around it right away, the oil is hot enough.

   💡Don't overload the oil: every piece that goes in cools it down. Fry one piece as a test, then the rest in several batches, and transfer to paper towels.
4. 8
   Drain on paper towels and serve hot.