Papanași

Papanași is sour cream and jam doughnuts (donuts) popular in Romania and Moldova. Some claim it is Romania's most famous dessert.

Unlike the West, donuts don't contain much sugar and instead rely on a fruit jam topping for sweetness. One difference between papanași and Western donuts is that they are made with a type of dry curd cheese, known simply as brânză de vaci (beef cheese). Another commonly used cheese is urdă, which is similar to dried ricotta.

This cheese forms the base of the dough and gives it a mild sour taste and thick consistency. Once cooked, these Romanian donuts have a slightly heavier texture than the light and soft Western ones.

As for cooking, while American donuts are always deep-fried, papanași can be fried or boiled.

The latter has a texture similar to that of gnocchi, with no shadow on the top, and is usually coated with a crispy golden bread crumb. However, like the fried version, it is served with smântă (sour cream) and a sweet, tart jam like wild blueberries or sour cherries.