Healthy Cottage Cheese Pastries with Cherry and Pistachio

In a mixing bowl, combine the low-fat cottage cheese, baking powder, egg yolk, all-purpose flour, and the egg. Mix everything together until you achieve a smooth, pliable dough. This should take a few minutes to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.

In another bowl, combine the sugar, soft cottage cheese, and egg yolk. Blend until you have a smooth mixture. This will create a creamy filling for your pastries that contrasts beautifully with the dough.

Take small portions of the dough and roll them into balls. Place these balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them evenly apart. This helps them bake uniformly and prevents sticking.

Using a glass, carefully press down on each dough ball to create a small indentation in the center. Make sure the sides of the pastry rise a bit higher than the center to hold the filling nicely.

Fill each indentation with your cottage cheese mixture, then place a few cherries or berries on top. Finally, sprinkle some pistachio flakes over each pastry for added crunch and flavor.

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). Bake the pastries for about 30 to 35 minutes. Keep an eye on them to ensure they get a nice golden color without burning.

If desired, drizzle some honey over the pastries for sweetness. Personally, I love them chilled and even without the honey, as the combination of cottage cheese and cherries is delightful on its own!