Vartofii cu Branza si Marar (Potatoes with Cheese and Dill)
A simple yet flavorful Moldovan dish featuring boiled potatoes mashed with salty cheese and fresh dill, often served as a side or a light main course.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings4
DifficultyEasy
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Potatoes(peeled and quartered)
- 200 g Telemea cheese(crumbled or grated (feta can be substituted))
- 1 bunch Fresh dill(finely chopped)
- 50 g Butter(optional, for richness)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper(freshly ground)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in a large pot. Cover with cold water and add salt.
💡 Tip: Ensure potatoes are evenly sized for consistent cooking. - 2
Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- 3
Drain the potatoes thoroughly. Return them to the warm pot.
💡 Tip: Draining well prevents a watery mash. - 4
Add the crumbled telemea cheese, chopped fresh dill, and optional butter to the pot with the potatoes.
- 5
Mash the ingredients together using a potato masher or a fork until well combined and creamy. Season with black pepper.
💡 Tip: Avoid over-mashing, as this can make the potatoes gummy. - 6
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use a good quality, salty cheese like telemea or a firm feta.
- ✓Fresh dill is crucial for the authentic flavor.
- ✓For a richer dish, add a tablespoon or two of sour cream along with the cheese and dill.
🔄 Variations
- Add a clove of minced garlic for extra flavor.
- Incorporate some chopped green onions along with the dill.
- For a baked version, transfer the mashed mixture to a baking dish, top with more cheese and bake until golden.