Romanian Sweet Cheese Dumplings (Colțunași)
Colțunași are traditional Moldovan dumplings made from a simple egg-and-flour dough, filled with sweetened cottage cheese flavoured with vanilla and lemon zest, boiled in water, and served with sour cream and icing sugar. Simple, nourishing, and deeply traditional, they are a soul dish of Moldova and Bucovina.
Servings
5
Prep
50 min + 30 min odihnă aluat
Cook
20 min
Total
1 h 40 min
🥘Ingredients
servings
Dough
Sweet Cheese Filling
For boiling and serving
✅Dietary Compatibility
Yield
approx. 30–35 dumplings (5 servings)
📦Storage
Refrigerator
Boiled dumplings keep for 1–2 days in the refrigerator, tossed with a little oil or butter. Reheat over steam or in a buttered pan.
Freezer
Freeze uncooked in a single layer on a floured tray, then transfer to a bag — up to 3 months. Boil directly from frozen, adding 3 extra minutes.
🥗Nutrition Facts
Approximate values per serving (5–6 dumplings with sour cream)
Calories
260 kcal
Protein
12 g
Fat
9 g
Carbohydrates
33 g
Fiber
1 g
🍷Pairs Well With
💡Variations
Potato and cheese dumplings: mix 200 g mashed potato with 200 g crumbled feta for a savoury, hearty filling.
Sour cherry dumplings: replace the cheese with pitted sour cherries sprinkled with sugar — classic and refreshing.
Pan-fried dumplings: after boiling, pan-fry in butter until lightly golden on both sides for a crispier variation.