Belokranjska povitica (rolled pastry)

“Belokranjska Povitica” is made from filo pastry, shaped in an oblong fine roll. The filling is made of cottage cheese or cheese, heated cream, or eggs. The dish has to be crisply done and salted not sweetened. The color of the “Povitica” is light brown, and there has to be air between the layers. It is served in small rings together with a wonderful glass of “Metliška Črnina”. “Prosta Povitica”, is a simplefied version, prepared with eggs and pork fat.

Recipe for “Belokranjska Povitica”:

INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILO PASTRY:
500g all-purpose flour
1 egg
3-4dcl lukewarm water
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp vinegar
3g salt (1/4 tsp salt dissolved in water)

INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING:
1kg fresh local cheese or curds, heated cream
2 eggs
12g salt

To prepare the filo pastry, mix the ingredients into a smooth dough. Divide the dough into small loaves, coat them with oil, and cover them with a kitchen towel or a bowl. The dough rests for half an hour, then roll it out on a floured cloth into a 30 cm circle and continue stretching it on our hands, then on the cloth, to make it as thin as possible, allowing it to dry slightly.

Mix Cheese, heated cream, eggs, and salt to form a thick paste, that you spread with a spoon on the filo pastry. Roll the filled filo pastry into a strudel and put it into a greased baking tin. The top of the “Povitica” is coated with a beaten egg and baked for 30 minutes at 220°C. Normally the “Belokranjska Povitica” is rolled and baked in a round baking tin. The “Povitica” must be crispy.