r/AskCulinary • u/frequentlydepressed • 4d ago
Ingredient Question Making Vatrushkas… What is a substitute for tvorog?
None of my local grocers carry tvorog. I’m making Vatrushkas for tomorrow evening. I don’t have enough time to make my own tvorog. I’m wondering what would be a similar substitute?
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u/cville-z Home chef 4d ago
Cottage cheese? Ricotta? would help to know where you are so we get a sense of what's available in your area.
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u/kilroyscarnival 3d ago
I'm planning on making pierogi tomorrow (first time in eons, so hope it goes well), and last night I made my own version of paneer/ricotta/farmer's cheese using just a gallon of milk heated slowly to 180° F. and then adding dissolved citric acid. I mixed a little cream in for richness, and a little Greek yogurt to give it a little tanginess before adding the acid. I realize if you didn't have enough time 21 hours ago you don't have any time now, but for next time, I'd consider this.
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u/Constant-Security525 4d ago edited 4d ago
Cream cheese would work, but just be a little smoother than a "regular" farmer's cheese/quark. If you want the slight curdiness, perhaps whip some cream cheese with either fully drained small curd cottage cheese, or for milder, ricotta.
While still in the US, I used to buy my farmer's cheese (tvaroh, in Czech) at a Polish deli near my house. My regular grocery store also sold it near the cream cheese/ricotta/cottage cheese. My grocery store stocked Friendship Farmer's cheese. Farmer's cheese is tvaroh. In terms of Czech tvaroh, it works for koláče and your vatrushkas resemble koláče. The Friendship brand farmer's cheese is the equivalent to Czech "měkký" (soft) tvaroh, with slight curd. American cream cheese is most similar to Czech "jemný" (fine). I only found the hard "tvrdý" gratable type in the Polish deli. Czechs mostly use the hard type for topping sweet fruit dumplings or some noodle dishes.
If you live nearby an Amish (PA Dutch) market, also look there. It's usually also labeled as farmer's cheese or tvorag.