Sweet Noodle Cake with Farmers Cheese (Vargabéles)

Although this is a dessert, it's not a pretty-petit-elegant one, It's a fulfilling, sweet dish, which is mainly served as a second course after a nice warm soup.

Ingredients (serves 6 to 8)

200 grams (7 oz) angel hair pasta
1 packet of filo pastry sheets (6 sheets, mine was 40x40 centimeters)
500 grams (17.5 oz) farmers cheese (do not substitute with cottage cheese!)
200 mililiters (6.7 fl oz) sour cream
200 grams (7 oz) confectioners sugar + more for dusting
4 eggs (yolks and whites separated)
100 grams (3.5 oz) raisins /optional/
1 packet (10 grams) vanilla sugar (0.32 oz)
Grated zest of 1 lemon
80 grams (2.8 oz) butter, melted

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the angel hair pasta, stir gently and cook for a couple of minutes (see your packet instruction; do not overcook!)
2. When it's done, drain and rinse under cold running water to prevent sticking. Let it drain in a colander and set aside.
3. Place the farmers cheese into a large bowl and crumble it with a fork. Set aside.
4. In another bowl combine the confectioners sugar with the egg yolks and stir until it's well combined, light and fluffy.
5. Pour this egg-mixture over the farmers cheese, add the sour cream, raisins (optional), vanilla sugar and grated lemon zest.
6. Stir everything well then add the cooked angel hair pasta and stir again gently to combine it with the cheese-mixture.
7. In a third bowl beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they are stiff.
8. Gently fold it into the pasta-mixture (try not to break the egg-whites). Set it aside
9. Brush you baking pan with melter butter all over. (I used a 20x30x6 centimeter baking pan)
10. Place your first filo-pastry sheet into the buttered baking pan, then arrange it well, gently pushing the sheet to the sides (never mind if the filo tears here and there...). The filo sheet should be a little bit bigger then the tray.
11. Brush it with melted butter, place the second sheet over and repeat this process with the third sheet too – buttering them in between.
12. Pour the pasta-farmers cheese mix into the pan, arrange it to have an even layer.
13. Fold the overlaying filo-sheets over the pasta at all four sides.
14. Cover it with a sheet of filo-pastry (cut to the same size as the baking pan).
15. Now, brush it with melted butter, place a filo over, brush, another filo and brush.
16. Put it into the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes at 180C (356F).
17. When the time is over take it out of the oven, let it cool a little then cut into 6 (or more) squares with a sharp knife.
18. Serve with confectioners sugar dusted over.
19. ENJOY!

/The music is based on a Hungarian folk song, played and made by my husband, MrStick© 2019 - (all rights reserved)/

[filam]

Very interesting! It's basically a noodle cheesecake.

I thought it was weird at first, but then I realized that some of my favorite desserts in the Philippines use pasta.

I'll have to give this a try!

[rosemunn]

Hi, I am so happy I found your recipes and your Channel. You should be getting more hits, you are cooking the authentic Hungarian dishes and that is so wonderful. You should add the words Hungarian Cooking to your Channel name because more people need to know about your Channel and all the great dishes you lend to everyone. My Mom came to Canada in 1939 and I have enjoyed and miss all those wonderful dishes. There are so many favourites, love the soup! I'm going to be busy making your recipes in the near future. Thanks you very much, you are GREAT! from Rose

[imrekocsis]

Oh well i guess there goes my diet. Looks seriously good. i live in South Africa and have no idea what farmers cheese is, i thought it was cottage cheese thank goodness i read the recipe. What would be the equivalent in the UK for farmers cheese as we can get a lot of similar products. Thanks for the video.

[catpers]

Looks very delicious! But don't let the dog eat raisins, because they can be fatal to dogs and cats. The same for grapes.