A recipe for Paste cu Brânză (Romanian Pasta with Cheese)! Pasta is tossed with melted butter and grated telemea cheese for a quick and easy meal.
I recently stopped by Moldova European Food Market in Stafford, Virginia for the first time and was so excited to see so many types of cheese, pantry staples, and more from across Eastern Europe.
One of the items I took home was a block of Romanian Telemea cheese. I started looking for ways to feature it and came across Where is My Spoon’s Romanian Mac and Cheese!
This comforting meal pairs the cheese simply with pasta and butter (or oil). It comes together in less than 30 minutes for an easy lunch.
Serve warm from the pan with optionally a little sugar over the top for a nice contrast of sweet and savory.
Telemea Cheese
Telemea is a Romanian semi-soft cheese usually made of cow’s or sheep’s milk. It has a creamy to crumbly texture (depending on the age) perfect for grating and pairing with the pasta.
For those in the DC area, I found it in the refrigerated section at Moldova European Food Market in Stafford. It may also be available in markets with Romanian and Eastern European ingredients.
If you cannot find Telemea, substitute with a good-quality feta soaked in brine (not pre-crumbled).
A Few Paste cu Brânză Tips
While I have fallen in love with this quick stovetop version, there are so many variations of macaroane cu brânză from sweet to savory or even baked and served in slices.
I made the Paste cu Brânză Telemea with penne, but other medium-sized shapes will work well such as macaroni, shells, or farfalle. You can even use longer shapes like spaghetti or tagliatelle.
Cook the pasta just until tender, al dente. It will cook a little more as it is tossed with the butter and cheese.
Adina shared that her grandmother would always let the pasta develop crispy spots while in the pan. This was so so good and really added to the overall texture of the dish.
I tossed the pasta with the butter and grated cheese in a well-seasoned cast iron pan. This was perfect for getting those crispy edges without any of the pasta sticking to the sides. If you do not have a cast iron pan available, toss the pasta in a large, non-stick pan.
Adjust seasonings to taste. Other than to the pasta water, I did not need to add any salt due to the salt content in the cheese. If using a less salty type of cheese, you may need to add a pinch or two.
Some recipes add a spoonful or two of smântână (sour cream) to create more of a coating on the pasta. If you do this, reduce the amount of butter.
About two tablespoons of vegetable oil (30 milliliters) can be used in place of the butter.
This recipe is perfect for 2-3 people. The ingredients can easily be doubled for larger servings. If your pan is smaller, it still may need to be prepared in batches.
Looking for more easy pasta recipes?
Try my:
Paste cu Brânză (Romanian Pasta with Cheese) Recipe
Adapted from Where is My Spoon
Paste cu Brânză (Romanian Pasta with Cheese)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (227 grams) dried medium-sized pasta such as penne, macaroni, or shells
- 2 ounces (57 grams) unsalted butter
- 4 ounces (113 grams) Telemea cheese grated, or a feta soaked in brine
- Granulated sugar for serving, optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, al dente.
- Drain the pasta and set aside.
- In a large cast iron skillet or nonstick pan, melt the butter over medium-low heat.
- Add the drained pasta and toss in the cheese until well combined.
- Cook the pasta for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, to get some crispy edges on the pasta.
- Remove from heat and allow to rest for another 2 minutes.
- Serve warm with a little sugar sprinkled over the top if desired.
TAYLER ROSS
I love a simple pasta recipe, and this one look delicious!