Skillet Cottage Cheese Casserole with Lemon Zest

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   You can make a cottage cheese casserole not only in the oven, but right on the stovetop in a covered skillet. For 8 servings you'll need about 1 lb (500 g) cottage cheese, 3 eggs, half a cup of sugar, 4 tablespoons of semolina, a teaspoon of lemon zest, and a little vegetable oil to grease the pan. Put the cottage cheese in a bowl and mash it smooth.

2. Step 2:

   

   In a separate bowl, crack in the eggs and add the sugar.

3. Step 3:

   

   Beat the eggs and sugar with a mixer for two minutes.

4. Step 4:

   

   After those two minutes, keep beating and add the semolina to the eggs.

5. Step 5:

   

   Keep beating the egg mixture for another two minutes, until it's light and fluffy.

6. Step 6:

   

   Next, grate the lemon peel on a fine grater to get a teaspoon of zest.

7. Step 7:

   

   Add the lemon zest to the bowl of cottage cheese.

8. Step 8:

   

   Pour the beaten egg mixture, now with the sugar and semolina, into the cottage cheese.

9. Step 9:

   

   Gently fold the cottage cheese and egg mixture together.

10. Step 10:

    

    Then beat the cottage cheese and egg mixture thoroughly with the mixer for one more minute.

11. Step 11:

    

    Generously grease your skillet with vegetable oil.

12. Step 12:

    

    Before adding the batter, set the skillet over high heat, cover it, and warm it for 30–40 seconds, then turn the heat down to low.

13. Step 13:

    

    Spoon the cottage cheese batter into the warmed skillet.

14. Step 14:

    

    Smooth out the top.

15. Step 15:

    

    Cover the skillet and leave it over low heat for 30 minutes.

16. Step 16:

    

    As it cooks under the lid, the casserole will dome up in the center. If your lid is glass, you'll be able to watch it happen.

17. Step 17:

    

    The skillet casserole will be ready in half an hour. Turn off the heat and lift the lid.

18. Step 18:

    

    Let the casserole cool. As it cools, the raised dome in the center will settle and the surface will even out.

19. Step 19:

    

    Once the casserole has cooled, transfer it to a serving plate. It's easiest to do this in pieces: cut the casserole right in the skillet and carefully lift each piece onto the plate with a spatula.

20. Step 20:

    

    Serve the cottage cheese casserole with a dollop of sour cream.