Poale-n Brâu (Moldovan Cheese-Filled Pastry Parcels)
Local name: Poale-n brâu
In short: Square pastries of tender yogurt dough folded around a salty cheese and dill filling, with the corners tucked into the center, baked golden. It takes about 1 h 15 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 15 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 500 kcal
The name poale-n brâu means skirts tucked into the belt, and it describes the way the corners of each dough square are folded into the middle over the filling. These pastries are a favorite across Moldova, filled with curd cheese and often a little brined cheese and dill. The dough is soft and short, made with yogurt and butter, and bakes into golden parcels with a tender center. They are best warm, and good cold on a picnic.
Instructions
- Rub the cold butter into the flour, salt and baking soda until crumbly. Stir in the yogurt and egg to make a soft dough, knead briefly, then wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
- Mix the curd cheese, feta, egg, dill and pepper into a thick filling.
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Roll the dough out to 3 mm (1/8 in) thick and cut 12 cm (5 in) squares, rerolling the scraps.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of filling into the center of each square. Fold the four corners over to meet in the middle and pinch the seams to seal. Press down lightly.
- Brush the tops with the egg yolk mixture and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden and puffed. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Tips
- Drain the curd cheese in a sieve for 30 minutes. A wet filling leaks out of the pastry and makes the bottom soggy.
- For a sweet version, replace the feta, dill and pepper with 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and a handful of raisins.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze poale-n brâu?
Yes. Freeze the unbaked pastries on a tray, then bag them for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen at 190°C (375°F) for about 35 minutes.
Can I use puff pastry for poale-n brâu?
Yes, as a shortcut. Cut squares from thawed puff pastry, fill, fold the corners and bake at 200°C (400°F) for about 20 minutes.
Are poale-n brâu sweet or savory?
Both versions exist. Savory ones use salty cheese and dill, and sweet ones use sugared curd cheese with raisins and vanilla.
How long does it take to make Poale-n Brâu (Moldovan Cheese-Filled Pastry Parcels)?
About 1 h 15 min in total: 45 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Poale-n Brâu (Moldovan Cheese-Filled Pastry Parcels)?
About 500 kcal per serving, with 19 g of protein, 52 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
