**Pierogi: A Culinary Journey Through Eastern Europe**
Pierogi, a beloved dumpling dish, has captured the hearts and taste buds of Eastern Europeans for centuries. These delectable pockets of dough, filled with a variety of savory and sweet ingredients, offer a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your palate. Embark on a culinary expedition through Poland, Ukraine, and Russia, as we unveil the secrets behind this iconic dish. Discover the art of crafting the perfect pierogi dough, mastering the intricate folding techniques, and exploring the endless possibilities of fillings. From classic potato and cheese to sauerkraut and mushroom, or sweet fillings like fruit and cottage cheese, each bite promises a unique and unforgettable experience. Unleash your inner chef and embark on a pierogi-making adventure with our comprehensive guide, featuring three distinct recipes that cater to every taste preference.
HOMEMADE SAUERKRAUT PIEROGIES / PEROGIES - OLD FASHIONED RECIPE
Make and share this Homemade Sauerkraut Pierogies / Perogies - Old Fashioned Recipe recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Mimi Bobeck
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Sauerkraut Filling: Rinse the sauerkraut well in warm water, squeeze dry, and chop very fine.
- Cook the onion in the fat or shortening until tender.
- Add the sauerkraut and cream.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Cook over low heat for 15 minutes or until sauerkraut is tender and the flavors blend.
- Do not over cook.
- Chill thoroughly.
- Mix the flour with the salt in a deep bowl.
- Add the egg, oil and water to make a medium soft dough.
- Knead on a floured board until the dough is smooth.
- Caution: Too much kneading will toughen the dough.
- Divide the dough into 2 parts.
- Cover and let stand for at least 10 minutes.
- Prepare the filling.
- The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape.
- Roll the dough quite thin on a floured board.
- Cut rounds with a large biscuit cutter, or as most old-world grandmothers did, with the open end of a glass.
- Put the round in the palm of your hand.
- Place a spoonful of filling in it, fold over to form a half circle and press the edges together with the fingers.
- The edges should be free of filling.
- Be sure the edges are sealed well to prevent the filling from running out.
- Place the pierogi on a floured board or tea towel and then cover with another tea towel to prevent them from drying out.
- COOKING: Drop a few pierogies into a large quantity of rapidly boiling salted water.
- Do not attempt to cook too many at a time.
- Stir VERY gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Continue boiling for 3-4 minutes.
- The cooling period will depend upon the size you made it, the thickness of the dough and the filling.
- Pierogies will be ready when they are puffed.
- Remove them with a perforated spoon or skimmer to a colander and drain thoroughly.
- Place in a deep dish, sprinkle generously with melted butter to prevent them from sticking.
- Cover and keep them hot until all are cooked.
- Serve in a large dish without piling or crowding them.
- Top with melted butter- chopped crisp bacon and/or chopped onions lightly browned in butter.
- REHEATING: One of the great things about pierogies, is that they can be made in large quantities, refrigerated, frozen and reheated without lost of quality.
- Many prefer reheated pierogies as compared to freshly boiled ones.
- To re-heat, you can 1) pan fry pierogies in butter or bacon fat until they are light in color or 2) heat the pierogies in the top of a double boiler or in the oven until they are hot and plump or 3) deep fry them.
HOMEMADE POTATO AND CHEESE PIEROGIES / OLD FASHIONED PEROGIES
Make and share this Homemade Potato and Cheese Pierogies / Old Fashioned Perogies recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Mimi Bobeck
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 30m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Potato and Cheese Filling: Cook the onion in butter until tender.
- Combine it with potatoes and cheese.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Vary the proportions and ingredients in this recipe to suit your taste.
- Mix the flour with the salt in a deep bowl.
- Add the egg, oil and water to make a medium soft dough.
- Knead on a floured board until the dough is smooth.
- Caution: Too much kneading will toughen the dough.
- Divide the dough into 2 parts.
- Cover and let stand for at least 10 minutes.
- Prepare the filling.
- The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape.
- Roll the dough quite thin on a floured board.
- Cut rounds with a large biscuit cutter, or as most old-world grandmothers did, with the open end of a glass.
- Put the round in the palm of your hand.
- Place a spoonful of filling in it, fold over to form a half circle and press the edges together with the fingers.
- The edges should be free of filling.
- Be sure the edges are sealed well to prevent the filling from running out.
- Place the pierogi on a floured board or tea towel and then cover with another tea towel to prevent them from drying out.
- COOKING: Drop a few pierogies into a large quantity of rapidly boiling salted water.
- Do not attempt to cook too many at a time.
- Stir VERY gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Continue boiling for 3-4 minutes.
- The cooling period will depend upon the size you made it, the thickness of the dough and the filling.
- Pierogies will be ready when they are puffed.
- Remove them with a perforated spoon or skimmer to a colander and drain thoroughly.
- Place in a deep dish, sprinkle generously with melted butter to prevent them from sticking.
- Cover and keep them hot until all are cooked.
- Serve in a large dish without piling or crowding them.
- Top with melted butter- chopped crisp bacon and/or chopped onions lightly browned in butter.
- REHEATING: One of the great things about perogies, is that they can be made in large quantities, refrigerated, frozen and reheated without loss of quality.
- Many prefer reheated perogies as compared to freshly boiled ones.
- To re-heat, you can: 1) pan fry pierogies in butter or bacon fat until they are light in color or, 2) heat the pierogies in the top of a double boiler or in the oven until they are hot and plump or, 3) deep fry them.
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients. Fresh, high-quality ingredients will result in the best-tasting perogies.
- Don't overwork the dough. Overworking the dough will make it tough. Mix it just until it comes together.
- Use a generous amount of filling. Don't be stingy with the filling! The more filling you use, the more flavorful your perogies will be.
- Boil the perogies until they float. This is the best way to ensure that they are cooked through.
- Fry the perogies until they are golden brown. This will give them a delicious crispy texture.
- Serve the perogies with your favorite toppings. Sour cream, butter, and fried onions are all classic choices.
Conclusion:
Perogies are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal, or for a special occasion. With a little practice, you can make perogies that are just as good as the ones you get from your favorite Ukrainian restaurant. So what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try today!
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