Lazy Vareniki

Mix the cottage cheese with the sugar and a pinch of salt. If your cottage cheese is lumpy rather than smooth, press it through a fine colander or sieve first.

Add the egg and stir until smooth.

Add the flour and mix thoroughly (the cottage cheese mixture will be sticky). If the mixture seems too runny, your cottage cheese was too watery to begin with — just add more flour as needed!

Dust a cutting board (or your work surface) with flour. Drop a heaping tablespoon of the cottage cheese mixture onto it. Sprinkle more flour on top.

Using gentle hand movements, begin rolling it into a log shape.

Shape the dough into a log about 2 cm in diameter. Flatten it slightly along its entire length.

Cut diagonally with a knife every 2 cm to form small diamond shapes.

Bring a pot of water to a boil and salt it. Drop the vareniki into the boiling water one at a time. Cook over low heat for 2–3 minutes after they float to the surface.

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the vareniki to a plate and coat them generously with a knob of butter. If you like, serve with sour cream on the side.