If you’re craving an "all-in-one" meal that has the taste and the nutrition, you’re going to love this Meat Roll With Fresh-Milled Flour. It looks like the kind of dish you’d only make for a holiday table, but it's surprisingly simple. The dough is soft and flavorful thanks to the cottage cheese, and the fresh-milled flour gives every slice a nice, rustic flavor you just can’t get from store-bought.
A meat roll is something anyone from the Balkans is familiar with, and is often served at family gatherings, holiday feasts, and special occasions.
It's one of those dishes that's filling enough all on it's own, but I recommend serving it with a light side dish just to round up the meal nicely.
Quick Look
- Prep time: ~30 mins mins.
- Cook time: ~50 mins.
- Servings: 8–10.
- Main ingredients: hard wheat flour, cottage cheese, ground meat, onion, eggs, herbs
- Cooking method: Baking → Oven
- Difficulty: Medium
- Serving ideas: Serve warm in slices, with salad or vegetables
Jump to:
Important Ingredients
- Flour freshly milled hard white wheat flour makes a rustic, flavorful dough.
- Cottage (or farmer’s) cheese adds moisture and richness to the dough without making it heavy.
- Butter gives the dough tenderness and richness.
- Nutmeg adds subtle warmth and a traditional taste.
- Ground meat gives the filling flavor and texture.
- Onion just goes perfectly with ground meat.
- Eggs bind the meat filling together for a cohesive texture.
- Marjoram adds an earthy, savory note.
- Parsley flavors the filling and adds color and freshness.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Herbs: Replace marjoram with oregano, thyme, or rosemary.
- Cheese: Use ricotta or farmer’s cheese instead of cottage cheese.
- Premium: Add sautéed bell peppers, grated carrot, or sprinkle cheese on top.
How to Make Meat Roll With Fresh-Milled Flour
Step 1: In a large bowl (Image 1), mix the flour (keep 1–2 tablespoon for the filling), baking powder, and salt. Add softened butter (reserve a little for greasing), cottage cheese, and nutmeg.
Step 2: Knead until it forms a smooth ball. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes (Image 2).
Step 3: Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion until soft (Image 3).
Step 4: Add the ground meat, salt, pepper, and marjoram (Image 4). Cook until the meat is fully cooked and no longer pink. Remove from heat.
Step 5: Stir in the reserved flour, then let it cool slightly. Mix in the eggs and parsley (Image 5) until well combined.
Step 6: Roll the rested dough into a thin rectangle (Image 6).
Step 7: Spread the meat filling evenly over it (Image 7).
Step 8: Roll up tightly like a strudel, placing it seam-side down on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet (Image 8).
Step 9: Beat the egg and brush it over the top (Image 9). Bake at 180°C / 350°F for about 50 minutes, until golden and cooked through. For a lighter top, cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
Step 10: Let the roll rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing to keep the swirl intact, then serve and enjoy (Image 10)!
Hint: fresh-milled flour soaks up liquids slowly. Make sure you leave it alone to fully hydrate before you attempt to roll it out.
💭Crucial Success Tips
- Spread the filling evenly so the swirl looks good and is evenly distributed through every bite.
- Brush the top well with egg, it’s what gives you that bakery-style crust.
- Roll tightly, but not so tight that the filling squeezes out.
- Let it rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing or the layers can tear.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can assemble the entire roll, cover it, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add a couple extra minutes to the bake time.
Fresh-milled hard wheat (hard white or hard red) works best because it has enough protein to keep the dough together and makes it possible to roll it out nicely while still staying soft.
Usually it just needs a few extra grams of water. Or a little more rest. If it cracks, it means flour doesn't have enough liquid to hold its shape.
How To Store Meat Roll With Fresh-Milled Flour
Let the meat roll cool completely before storing. Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. Sliced portions can be reheated gently in a skillet or microwave. For longer storage, wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap or foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Other Delicious Recipes
If you tried this Meat Roll With Fresh-Milled Flour or any other recipe on my blog please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below! Happy Baking!
Leave a Reply