Lviv Syrnyk: Traditional Ukrainian Cottage Cheese Cake

Welcome! Thank you for your interest in this Lviv Syrnyk recipe. I am happy to share every step and recommendation for preparing this delicious treat. It is a true piece of Lviv's soul.

Supplies:

Ingredients:

1. Farmer’s Cheese (9% fat) — 1 kg (35 oz);
2. Eggs — size L (8 pcs) or M (10 pcs);
3. Sugar — 250 g (9 oz);
4. Unsalted Butter (82-82.5% fat) — 150 g (5.3 oz);
5. Semolina — 4 tbsp;
6. Raisins — 150 g (5.3 oz);
7. 1 Madagascar vanilla bean (or 10g / 0.35 oz vanilla sugar);
8. Zest of 1 lemon;
9. Zest of 1 orange.

Tools:

1. Baking dish (approx. 28x20 cm / 11x8 inches);
2. Parchment paper;
3. 3 large mixing bowls;
4. 1 glass;
5. Immersion blender or meat grinder;
6. Hand mixer;
7. Fine grater.

The night before baking, soak the orange and lemon in drinking water. On the baking day, keep the eggs, cheese, and butter at room temperature (19-21°C / 66-70°F) to ensure perfect mixing.

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Use the static heating mode to ensure even baking. Place raisins in a glass and cover them with boiling water. Line the baking dish with parchment paper and grease it with butter for easy removal.

Process the cheese in a large bowl using an immersion blender until it becomes silky and smooth. Alternatively, pass it through a meat grinder twice.

Separate the egg yolks and whites into different bowls. Whisk the yolks with sugar, softened butter, and vanilla seeds until the mixture is light and creamy.

Add the finely grated citrus zest to the yolk mixture. Combine this with the processed cheese and stir until the mass is uniform.

Dry the soaked raisins thoroughly and add them to the cheese mass. Add the semolina and stir everything together.

Whisk the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold them into the cheese mass using a spatula. Pour the batter into the dish and bake for 50-60 minutes. Allow the Lviv Syrnyk to cool. If like it cover it with chocolate glaze. At my home we prefere it without any topping.

Enjoy the process and the cozy taste of Lviv!

Yours, Iryna from Kolo Pechi

Keep the empty vanilla pod and grind it with 1 kg (35 oz) of sugar. Store this in a sealed jar for a month to create high-quality natural vanilla sugar for your future recipes or gifts.