Pierogi Filling Recipes

TRADITIONAL UKRAINIAN PEROGIES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into quarters. Cook in boiling water until soft enough to mash.
• Drain well, reserving 2 cups of potato water for dough.
• Return potatoes to the pot and add grated cheese and sautéed onion. Mash until smooth. Let filling cool while making the dough.
• In a large bowl, sift flour and combine with salt.
• Mix together water, oil and egg, and pour half of mixture into flour. Mix and slowly add the remaining liquid. Knead by hand until flour and liquid are well combined, into an elastic ball. You may need to add a small amount of either flour or water, depending on the consistency of the dough.
• When well blended and smooth, wrap in plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag and let dough rest for at least 30 minutes.
• Cut dough in half or in thirds, keeping unused dough well wrapped in plastic until needed. Flour the table or counter lightly and roll dough to about 1/8 inch thickness (thin is best, but not too thin, as you don't want the dough to break as you fill your perogy).
• Cut the dough in rounds using a biscuit cutter or a small drinking glass (upside down).
• Scoop about 1 Tbsp of potato filling for each perogy and roll into a ball in the palms of your hands.
• Fill each round of dough with a ball of potato filling and seal the edges of the dough together with your fingers. Make sure when pinching the edges to ensure there are no gaps or that the 2 sides of the dough do not pull away from each other. Wet you fingers just a little if needed to help dough stick together.
• Freeze on a baking tray and then transfer to a freezer bag if making in advance.
• To cook, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook in small batches (10-15 perogies at a time), stirring gently to prevent dumplings from sticking together. Perogies are finished cooking when they float to the top.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove them from water and drain before transferring to a serving bowl. Toss with butter and serve hot with sour cream. Add fried onions and.or bacon bits to take your perogies to the next level!

PIEROGI (POLISH DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• To prepare the sauerkraut filling, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the drained sauerkraut and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then remove to a plate to cool.
• For the mashed potato filling, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir into the mashed potatoes, and season with salt and white pepper.
• To make the dough, beat together the eggs and sour cream until smooth. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder; stir into the sour cream mixture until dough comes together. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until firm and smooth. Divide the dough in half, then roll out one half to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 3 inch rounds using a biscuit cutter.
• Place a small spoonful of the mashed potato filling into the center of each round. Moisten the edges with water, fold over, and press together with a fork to seal. Repeat procedure with the remaining dough and the sauerkraut filling.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add perogies and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until pierogi float to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon.

PIEROGI RUSKIE: POTATO-CHEESE PIEROGI

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Parboil the potatoes in a large saucepan by covering them with cold water and adding 1 tablespoon of salt.
• Bring the potatoes to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 30 minutes, or until fork-tender. Drain and let cool slightly.
• While the potatoes are parboiling, place the butter in a small pan, add the onion, and sauté over medium-low heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Peel the cooked potatoes, place them in a large bowl, and mash them with a fork or potato ricer .
• Add the sautéed onion and farmer cheese to the potatoes and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Place 2 cups of flour in a large bowl or on a work surface and make a well in the center.
• Break the egg into it, then add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of lukewarm water, a little at a time.
• Bring the dough together, kneading well and adding the remaining flour or water as needed to form a smooth dough ball.
• Divide the dough in half and cover it with a bowl or towel. Let it rest 20 minutes.
• Assemble the pierogi on a floured work surface by rolling out the dough to 1/8 inch in thickness. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter or drinking glass, make small circles.
• Spoon 1 1/2 teaspoons of the filling onto the middle of each circle.
• Fold the dough in half to form a half-circle shape and then firmly pinch the edges together.
• Sprinkle a baking sheet with flour and place the filled pierogi on it in a single layer. Keep the formed pierogi under a clean kitchen towel to stop them from drying.
• Gather scraps, reroll, and fill until you've used all of the first half of the dough. Repeat the process with the remaining half of dough.
• Cook the pierogi by bringing a large, low saucepan of salted water to a rapid boil. Depending on the size of your pot, drop in about 6 to 10 pierogi at a time, making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Return the water to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. When the pierogi rise to the surface, continue to simmer a few more minutes. It should take around 5 to 6 minutes for the pierogi to be cooked.
• With a slotted spoon taste one, and if done, remove the remaining pierogi to a platter greased with some of the butter for serving. This will prevent the pierogi from sticking to each other.
• Serve warm with caramelized onions , skwarki, or crispy bits of bacon and a dollop of sour cream. Enjoy.

PEROGIES WITH VARIOUS TRADITIONAL FILLINGS

Steps:

• note***The dough recipe is for around 50 perogies.
• At least 1 batch for each filling.
• I make a day of this and triple each recipe.
• Believe me, they don't last long!
• For the dough: Mix egg, oil and water.
• Add to flour and salt and knead to elastic.
• Flour your counter top and rolling pin.
• Roll the dough to around 1/4 inch thick and cut into small circles.
• Stretch with fingers and add 1 t. filling, fold over and flute.
• Boil until perogies float.
• Cool before freezing.
• Cottage cheese and Dill filling: In a large bowl mix all ingredients together well and fill perogies.
• Sauerkraut and Bacon: In a large bowl mix together all ingredients well. Bacon fat will cling to the kraut. Fill perogie dough.
• Potato and Cheese: In a large bowl mix well the potato, cheese, salt and mix well. Fill Perogie dough.
• You will need about 1 and 1/2 recipes for the dough for each batch of filling, depending on how thick or thin you roll your dough.

PIEROGI FILLING

Steps:

• For the Cabbage Filling: cut the cabbage into quarters. Steam until very tender, about 15 minutes; drain and cool. Wrap cooled cabbage in a towel, and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Simmer finely chopped onions in butter and chicken broth until the onion is translucent - add the cooled cabbage salt and pepper. Let simmer until heated. Stir in the cream cheese and dill (or substitute caraway seeds if you prefer).
• Instant Potato and Cheese Filling: Sautee the onion and butter in a small pot until the onion is translucent. Add enough water based on the instant mashed potato package directions (I would guess but every brand is different) and add the chives. Once the water has boiled, remove the pot from the heat and add the potato flakes, cheese and cream cheese.
• Ground beef filling: In a large frying pan, simmer the finely chopped onions in the butter and cook until the onions are translucent. Prepare the ground beef by combining and kneading it with the hunter's seasoning (see below). Add it to the onion mixture, chopping it with your spatula so it doesn't cook together. Cook until all of the pink is gone.
• Hunter's seasoning recipe: Make as much or as little as you want using this ratio. This will make more than the 3 tablespoons amount, but I don't know what the ratio would be for exactly that amount. I always make a jar full and keep it on hand since it's a good general meat seasoning for beef or poultry. 2 teaspoons Marjoram, 1 teaspoons peppercorn, 1 teaspoons caraway, ½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoons Allspice to taste, Cloves to taste, 1 crushed bay leaf, 1 teaspoons Juniper berries (A difficult thing to find, you can substitute this by adding a few shots of gin to the ground beef while kneading; gives it a great flavor and all the alcohol will cook out).

POLISH MEAT PIEROGI WITH BEEF & POULTRY

Steps:

• If you cooked rosół soup earlier, use the leftover meat - it's perfect for a pierogi filling. A leftover steak or roast meat will work great too.
• Grind the meat in a meat grinder, or use a food processor/blender instead.
• Peel and chop the onion finely. Add some oil to the frying pan, wait for it to warm up. Add the chopped onion and fry until golden.
• Add fried onion to the meat mass. Season well with salt and pepper. Have a try - does it need more spice? If so, add some garlic powder or smoked paprika powder. Blend well with a spoon or a spatula.
• If the filling appears too dry, add a few spoons of water or broth - meat should be sticky.
• Follow the steps below or pick an alternative pierogi dough recipe here.
• Prepare a clean work surface. Sift the flour, make a small well. Pour in a few spoonfuls of hot water.
• Knead flour and water together. Gradually add more water, until the dough to becomes elastic and soft.
• Divide the dough into four parts. Spread one part on the work surface, roll into a thin layer of dough. Use a glass to cut out circles.
• Place a spoonful of meat filling in the middle. Fold dough over filling. Press edges together.
• Continue forming until all pierogi are assembled.
• Bring a pot water to a boil, salt it. Reduce the heat.
• Drop a couple of pierogi in. Cook until they float to the top (5-6 minutes).
• In the meantime, chop kiełbasa sausage and 1/2 onion into cubes. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter on a frying pan, drop in kiełbasa and onions, let them fry until golden.
• Collect the dumplings with a slotted spoon.
• Serve pierogi, topping them with melted butter and fried onion/kiełbasa pieces. Sprinkle with chopped chives.

HOMEMADE PIEROGI

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine flour and salt; cover and pulse to blend. Add water, eggs and butter; cover and pulse until dough forms a ball, adding an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed. Let rest, covered, 15 to 30 minutes., Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until tender, 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, saute onions in butter until tender; set aside., Drain potatoes. Over very low heat, stir potatoes until steam has evaporated, 1-2 minutes. Press through a potato ricer or strainer into a large bowl. Stir in cream cheese, salt, pepper and onion mixture; set aside., Divide dough into 4 parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness; cut with a floured 3-in. biscuit cutter. Place 2 teaspoons of filling in center of each circle. Moisten edges with water; fold in half and press edges to seal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling., Bring a Dutch oven of water to a boil over high heat; add pierogi in batches. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer; cook until pierogi float to the top and are tender, 1-2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. In a large skillet, saute 4 pierogi and onion in butter until pierogi are lightly browned and heated through; sprinkle with parsley. Repeat with remaining pierogi. Freeze option: Place cooled pierogi on waxed paper-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pans; freeze until firm. Transfer to an airtight freezer container; freeze up to 3 months. To use, for each serving, in a large skillet, saute 4 pierogi and 1/4 cup chopped onion in 1 tablespoon butter until pierogi are lightly browned and heated through; sprinkle with minced fresh parsley.

POLISH MEAT PIEROGI RECIPE

Steps:

• Put flour, egg, oil, and salt into the bowl. Whisk it together with hand or dough hook attachment.
• Start adding the water slowly, letting it incorporate before adding more.
• Whisk until all the ingredients are incorporated and there are no lumps.
• If you use meat from the broth [recommended], grind it. If you use ground meat, fry it with a bit of oil. If it's not soft after frying, grind it again.
• Peel, finely chop and fry the onion with a bit of oil or butter.
• Mix meat with onion, add salt and pepper.
• Add melted butter, oil, or broth until you will get the sticky mixture that will be easy to stuff pierogi with.
• Divide the dough into the 2 or 3 pieces.
• Thinly roll each piece out onto a floured surface to just under 1/16 - 1/8" thickness.
• Use a round cookie cutter to cut the circles from the dough.
• Put the filling (1/2-3 teaspoons) in the center of each circle. The more filling the better, however, you need to be sure it stays inside pierogi. When the filling will get between the dough when sealing, pierogi may fall apart during the cooking.
• Pull the edges of each circle together to form pierogi. Make sure the seal is continuous and intact. You can't leave any free space, as pierogi will fall apart during the cooking. Pinch tightly.
• Collect the remaining dough scraps and put them to the other 2 dough pieces. Repeat the process until the entire filling and dough are used.
• Pour the water into the big pot. Add 2 pinches of salt. Boil.
• Gently throw pierogi, one by one into the boiling water.
• When they start floating, wait for a minute and take them out with the slotted spoon.
• Pour the melted butter on top.

PIEROGIES WITH POTATO AND CHEESE FILLING

Steps:

• Mix flour, water, and egg and salt together. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Cover dough with bowl and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Boil potatoes until soft. Drain and rinse. Add cheese. Let stand a few minutes until cheese melts. Then fold potatoes and cheese together.
• Roll out dough about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 3-inch squares. Fill each square of dough with one teaspoon of potato and cheese filling. Fold in half and pinch ends together to seal. Drop in hot boiling water and simmer for 8 minutes. Drain and fry in butter a few minutes until heated through. Chopped onions may be added to the butter, if desired. Salt and pepper, to taste.