The Edible Spiral: How to Make Traditional Moldovan Vertuta with Just Flour and Potatoes

When it comes to deciding what to make for dinner, it usually turns out that there’s some kind of ingredient missing for the recipe that you’ve almost chosen, though getting more groceries is the last thing you’d do at the moment.

Luckily, the world’s cuisine boasts of hundreds of recipes that don’t require either many ingredients or your time for cooking. The famous Moldovian vertuta is one of those — all you need is a couple of essential ingredients, and you’re all set for hearty dinner.

Here’s what you need: 8 potatoes, 400 g of flour, 0.5 cups of water, 50 g of vegetable oil, 2 onions, salt and black pepper to taste.

First, mix soft dough using flour, water, oil, and a pinch of salt; it should be elastic so it rolls out easily. Let it rest for about 20 minutes, then divide it into two parts.

While the dough is “resting,” peel the potatoes and grate them; squeeze out a little excess moisture so the filling isn’t too wet, then add finely chopped onion.

Roll out the dough very thinly, almost until it’s transparent, brush it with oil, spread the potato and onion mixture over it, and season with salt and pepper. Carefully roll it up into a log, then place it in a spiral shape in the baking dish. Make sure to brush the top with oil; that way, the crust turns out golden and appetizing.

Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes at 180°C. When you take it out, the aroma will draw everyone straight to the kitchen. Cut the roll into pieces.