Goat's Cheese Vareniki
Larissa created this dish for MasterChef UK ™ Series 22. Her goat's cheese, potato and thyme vareniki won warm praise for their beautifully thin, just-cooked dough and a filling the judges called wonderfully flavoured. This Fix-It reconstruction keeps those celebrated dumplings exactly as made while rebalancing the chicken-and-mushroom broth so its umami supports the delicate goat's cheese rather than overpowering it.
- Time: 135 min
Source: Relaxed Recipes
Ingredients
- FOR THE DUMPLING DOUGH
- plain flour, plus extra to dust
- fine salt
- large egg, room temperature
- sunflower or light oil
- warm water, approx.; add gradually
- FOR THE GOAT'S CHEESE, POTATO & THYME FILLING
- floury potatoes , peeled
- unsalted butter
- soft goat's cheese
- fresh thyme leaves, picked
- Salt & white pepper, to taste
- FOR THE REBALANCED CHICKEN & MUSHROOM BROTH
- dried porcini or mixed mushrooms, rinsed
- good chicken stock
- chestnut mushrooms, sliced
- small onion, halved
- garlic, lightly crushed
- bay leaf
- white miso, added gradually, to taste
- yeast extract , start scant - the key fix
- FOR THE GREMOLATA
- flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- Zest of 1 lemon
- small clove garlic , very finely minced
- fresh thyme leaves, optional
- EQUIPMENT
- Large mixing bowl
- Rolling pin or pasta machine
- cm round cutter
- Potato ricer or masher
- Medium saucepan
- Large saucepan or stockpot
- Fine-mesh sieve or muslin
- Slotted spoon
- Microplane or fine grater
- Clean tea towel