Lviv syrnyk

Lviv syrnyk is a traditional dessert originating from Lviv in the western part of Ukraine. It is prepared as a festive pastry for family gatherings, at Christmas or Easter, or whenever people want to treat guests to something special. Now it can be found throughout the country, but it is especially popular in Lviv, where it has become a true culinary symbol of the city. In cafés, it is typically served chilled with afternoon coffee.

________________

Ingredients

700 g fresh curd cheese*

4 eggs

40 g cornstarch

150 g sugar

100 g sour cream

100 g clarified butter

Vanilla to taste

Zest of 1 orange

150 g dried fruit (raisins and dried apricots)

For the toping:

180 g chocolate

20 g neutral-flavoured oil

__________________

Instructions

1. Soak the dried fruits in water until plump, then drain.

2. In a large bowl, combine the cheese, sugar, eggs, cornstarch, sour cream, clarified butter, vanilla, and orange zest. Blend until smooth.

3. Gently fold in the prepared dried fruits.

4. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and pour in the cheese mixture.

5. Bake at 180 °C (350 °F) for 55–60 minutes.

6. Cool the syrnyk and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.

7. For the chocolate topping, melt the chocolate with the oil in the microwave and spread evenly over the syrnyk. Chill for another hour before serving.

*The best choice for this recipe is a soft, slightly grainy curd cheese. In Finland, it can be found in Estonian or Ukrainian stores.

The closest alternative in Finnish supermarkets is ”rahkajuusto”. Before using, it’s recommended to drain any excess whey by placing the cheese in a sieve for a few hours or overnight. However, another option that might come to mind as suitable, “raejuusto”, won’t work for Lviv Syrnyk since the cheese making process is different.

Recipe and photo are provided by Nataliia Mazurenko