Easy Russian & Eastern European Lazy Dumplings Recipe (2024)

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My lazy dumplings recipe is a wonderfully simple way to bring humble and hearty Russian and Eastern European cooking into your home kitchen.

Wholesome and comforting, these rich cheese dumplings are made from a few simple ingredients. This beloved dish has been a staple in Russian cuisine and many Eastern European cuisines, including Moldovan cuisine and Ukrainian cuisine for generations, providing warmth and energy through the cold winters.

Russian Lazy Dumplings Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

First, assemble your ingredients. You’ll need the following:

• 250g (9oz) farmer’s cheese
• 70g (or 1/2 cup) flour, and some flour for dusting
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• optional for serving: butter, sour cream, jam

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1 – With your ingredients assembled, add the farmer’s cheese, flour, and salt to a mixing bowl, and crack the beaten egg over the top.

With all ingredients in the bowl, knead the mixture with your hands into a ball of dough. Knead and roll with your hands until you have a compact dough, as shown below.

Step 2 – Cover a chopping board, wooden board, or hard surface with flour, and place your ball of dough on the surface. Use a knife to cut the dough in half.

Step 3 – Roll the two halves into long rope-like shapes. Once rolled, press slightly on the top to flatten the dough slightly. The dumplings will have a height of around 1.5 cm or just over half an inch. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be precise here. From there, cut your rolls of dough evenly into individual chunks.

Step 4 – Bring a pot of water to a boil, and then add your dumplings to the water.

Step 5 – Let it cook for about 10 min. In a similar vein to ravioli, once ready, the dumplings will rise to the surface of the water. Drain the dumplings, and transfer them on a plate, ready to be served hot.

What to Serve with Lazy Dumplings

Step 6 – The beauty of these beloved cheese dumplings is that you can serve them with so many mains and sides.

Sour Cream – Growing up in Moldova, where this dish is known as coltunasi, I enjoyed them simply with a big dollop of sour cream.

Butter – Letting a knob of butter melt over the dumplings while still hot is a great way to enrich the flavor.

Jam or Fruit Preserve – Any jam or fruit preserve also pairs well with this dish.

Just the sight of that rich, yellow exterior, glistening from the melted butter, a dollop of sour cream slowly oozing along the ridges is enough to make my mouth water.

For a true taste of authentic, humble Russian and Eastern European cooking, you cannot go wrong with these dumplings.

This is simple, resourceful food that utilizes only a handful of ingredients, yet still delivers a hearty, comforting, and flavorful dish.

Russian & Eastern European Lazy Dumplings Recipe Card

You Might Also Like to Read

• Moldovan Food – Traditional Dishes as Recommended by a Local
• Easy Farmer’s Cheese (Tvorog) Recipe

Save and Pin for Later

Keep my lazy dumplings recipe for safekeeping, ready for when you need a quick, hearty meal, by saving it to one of your boards.

Author: Doina is a content writer and strategist, who has traveled to over 30 countries and counting. A keen foodie, she loves to discover new foods while traveling to inspire her own dishes back home.