# Pierogies: A Taste of Pittsburgh's Culinary Heritage
In the heart of Western Pennsylvania, nestled between rolling hills and the convergence of three rivers, lies the city of Pittsburgh, renowned for its rich culinary traditions. Among its many culinary gems, pierogies stand out as a beloved dish that has captured the hearts of locals and visitors alike. These delectable dumplings, filled with a variety of savory or sweet ingredients, have become an integral part of Pittsburgh's cultural fabric, a testament to the city's diverse heritage and its enduring love for comfort food.
**A Journey Through Pittsburgh's Pierogi Delights**
This article takes you on a culinary adventure, exploring the diverse world of pierogies in Pittsburgh. You'll discover a collection of authentic recipes, each offering a unique taste sensation. From the classic potato and cheese filling to the creative delights of sauerkraut and mushroom, these recipes capture the essence of Pittsburgh's pierogi legacy.
1. **Traditional Potato and Cheese Pierogies:** Embark on a culinary journey with this classic pierogi recipe. With a combination of mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, and onions, these dumplings are a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
2. **Sauerkraut and Mushroom Pierogies:** Experience a delightful twist on the classic pierogi with this recipe. The tangy sauerkraut and earthy mushrooms come together in a harmonious filling, creating a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
3. **Sweet Cheese Pierogies:** Discover the sweeter side of pierogies with this delectable recipe. Filled with a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla, these pierogies offer a delightful treat that's perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings.
4. **Potato and Bacon Pierogies:** Indulge in a hearty and savory treat with this pierogi recipe. The combination of potatoes, bacon, and onions creates a filling that's bursting with flavor and sure to leave you craving more.
5. **Pierogi Casserole:** Elevate your pierogi experience with this comforting casserole. Featuring a combination of pierogies, cheese, and your favorite sauce, this dish is a perfect blend of flavors and textures that's perfect for a family meal or a cozy night in.
6. **Pierogi Soup:** Embrace the warmth and comfort of this hearty pierogi soup. Filled with a medley of vegetables, tender pierogies, and a flavorful broth, this soup is a nourishing delight that's perfect for a chilly day.
7. **Fried Pierogies:** Experience the crispy, golden-brown perfection of fried pierogies. Whether you prefer them plain or topped with your favorite condiments, these fried dumplings are a delectable snack or appetizer that's sure to impress.
As you explore these pierogi recipes, you'll discover the culinary heritage of Pittsburgh and the diverse flavors that make this city's food scene so vibrant. From traditional delights to creative innovations, these pierogi recipes offer a taste of Pittsburgh's culinary soul, inviting you to savor the flavors that have made this dish a beloved tradition.
PITTSBURGH PIEROGIES
These are delicious, and the dough is pretty much fool proof..Very tender, an authentic true Pittsburgh recipe..I prepare these browned in onions and butter..sooooooooooo good! You can add whatever you like as far as fillings. I like to add jalapeno,potato and cheese.
Provided by Cassie *
Categories Other Side Dishes
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- 1. Pierogi dough preparation: To prepare the pierogi dough, mix together the flour and salt. Beat the egg, then add all at once to the flour mixture. Add the 1/2 cup sour cream and the softened butter pieces and work until the dough loses most of its stickiness (about 5-7 minutes). You can use a food processor with a dough hook for this, but be careful not to overbeat. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes or overnight; the dough can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Each batch of dough makes about 12-15 pierogies, depending on size.
- 2. Recipe for filling: Peel and boil 5 medium potatoes until soft. Red potatoes are especially good for this. While the potatoes are boiling, finely chop 1 large onion and saute in butter until soft and translucent. Mash the potatoes with the sauted onions and 4-8oz of grated cheddar cheese (depending on how cheesy you want your pierogies), adding salt and pepper to taste. You can also add some fresh parsley, bacon bits, chives, or other enhancements if you desire. Let the potato mixture cool and then form into 1" balls.
- 3. Prepare the pierogies: Roll the pierogi dough on a floured board or countertop until 1/8" thick. Cut circles of dough (2" for small pierogies and 3-3 1/2" for large pierogies) with a cookie cutter or drinking glass. Place a small ball of filling (about a tablespoon) on each dough round and fold the dough over, forming a semi-circle. Press the edges together with the tines of a fork. Boil the perogies a few at a time in a large pot of water. They are done when they float to the top (about 8-10 minutes). Rinse in cool water and let dry. Saute chopped onions in butter in a large pan until onions are soft. Then add pierogies and pan fry until lightly crispy. Serve with a side of sour cream for a true Pittsburgh pierogi meal.
- 4. Homemade Pierogi Tips: If you are having a hard time getting the edges to stick together, you may have too much flour in the dough. Add a little water to help get a good seal. If you don't want to cook all of the pierogies right away, you can refrigerate them (uncooked) for several days or freeze them for up to several months.
PIEROGIES
Though pierogies are a classic Polish dish, food editor Paul Grimes had them every Easter at his Russian grandmother's house. Pierogies are satisfyingly rich, so you'll only need to serve 2 or 3 per person as a first course; leftovers make a great breakfast.
Categories Mixer Onion Potato Side Easter Vegetarian Cheddar Boil Gourmet Sugar Conscious Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Makes 48 pierogies
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Make dough:
- Put flour in a large shallow bowl and make a well in center. Add water, egg, oil, and salt to well and carefully beat together with a fork without incorporating flour. Continue stirring with a wooden spoon, gradually incorporating flour, until a soft dough forms. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead, dusting with flour as needed to keep dough from sticking, until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes (dough will be very soft). Invert a bowl over dough and let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
- Make filling while dough stands:
- Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Cook potatoes in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain potatoes, then transfer to a bowl along with cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg and mash with a potato masher or a handheld electric mixer at low speed until smooth.
- When mashed potatoes are cool enough to handle, spoon out a rounded teaspoon and lightly roll into a ball between palms of your hands. Transfer ball to a plate and keep covered with plastic wrap while making 47 more balls in same manner (there will be a little filling left over).
- Make onion topping:
- Cook onion in butter in a 4- to 5-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally (stir more frequently toward end of cooking), until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.
- Form and cook pierogies:
- Halve dough and roll out 1 half (keep remaining half under inverted bowl) on lightly floured surface (do not overflour surface or dough will slide instead of stretching) with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 15-inch round (1/8 inch thick), then cut out 24 rounds with lightly floured cutter. Holding 1 round in palm of your hand, put 1 potato ball in center of round and close your hand to fold round in half, enclosing filling. Pinch edges together to seal completely. (If edges don't adhere, brush them lightly with water, then seal; do not leave any gaps or pierogi may open during cooking.) Transfer pierogi to a lightly floured kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and cover with another towel. Form more pierogies in same manner.
- Bring a 6- to 8-quart pot of salted water to a boil. Add half of pierogies, stirring once or twice to keep them from sticking together, and cook 5 minutes from time pierogies float to surface. Transfer as cooked with a slotted spoon to onion topping and toss gently to coat. Cook remaining pierogies in same manner, transferring to onions. Reheat pierogies in onion topping over low heat, gently tossing to coat.
PITTSBURGH PIEROGIES RECIPE - (5/5)
Provided by RuthLouise
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Pierogi Dough To prepare the pierogi dough, mix together the flour and salt. Beat the egg, then add all at once to the flour mixture. Add the 1/2 cup sour cream and the softened butter pieces and work until the dough loses most of its stickiness (about 5-7 minutes). You can use a food processor with a dough hook for this, but be careful not to overbeat. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes or overnight; the dough can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Each batch of dough makes about 12-15 pierogies, depending on size. Prepare the Pierogies Roll the pierogi dough on a floured board or countertop until 1/8" thick. Cut circles of dough (2" for small pierogies and 3-3 1/2" for large pierogies) with a cookie cutter or drinking glass. Place a small ball of filling (about a tablespoon) on each dough round and fold the dough over, forming a semi-circle. Press the edges together with the tines of a fork. Boil the perogies a few at a time in a large pot of water. They are done when they float to the top (about 8-10 minutes). Rinse in cool water and let dry. Saute chopped onions in butter in a large pan until onions are soft. Then add pierogies and pan fry until lightly crispy. Serve with a side of sour cream for a true Pittsburgh pierogi meal. Potato, Cheese & Onion Filling: Peel and boil 5 large potatoes until soft. Red potatoes are especially good for this. While the potatoes are boiling, finely chop 1 large onion and saute in butter until soft and translucent. Mash the potatoes with the sauted onions and 4-8oz of grated cheddar cheese (depending on how cheesy you want your pierogies), adding salt and pepper to taste. You can also add some fresh parsley, bacon bits, chives, or other enhancements if you desire. Let the potato mixture cool and then form into 1" balls. Sweet Cheese Filling: Mix together egg, salt, sugar and vanilla. Add farmer's cheese and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use. Drop by tablespoonsful onto pierogi dough of choice. Homemade Pierogi Tips: 1.If you are having a hard time getting the edges to stick together, you may have too much flour in the dough. Add a little water to help get a good seal. 2.If you don't want to cook all of the pierogies right away, you can refrigerate them (uncooked) for several days or freeze them for up to several months. 3.You can fill pierogies with pretty much anything you want, though potato and cheese is the most common Sweet pierogies are often filled with a prune mixture.
Tips:
- For the best results, use high-quality ingredients. Fresh potatoes, cheese, and sauerkraut will make a big difference in the final dish.
- Be sure to boil the potatoes until they are very soft. This will make them easy to mash and will help the pierogies stay together.
- When frying the pierogies, be sure to use a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. This will help them get a nice, crispy crust.
- Serve the pierogies with your favorite toppings. Some popular options include butter, sour cream, and caramelized onions.
Conclusion:
Pierogies are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes and they can be filled with a variety of different ingredients. Whether you are making them for a special occasion or just for a weeknight meal, pierogies are sure to be a hit.
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