Pierogies Outstanding Recipes

PIEROGIES (OUTSTANDING)

Steps:

• Filling:.
• Shred the cheese and set aside.
• Peel, cube and cook until tender the 8 potatoes. Drain.
• Place half the potatoes in a mixing bowl (I utilize the KitchenAid) add the shredded cheese and top with the remaining potatoes. Beat well, tasting if the seasoning seems correct for your taste. Let cool.
• The filling may be made the day before. Let cool completely before covering otherwise it may sweat and make the potatoes a little watery.
• Dough:.
• In a food processor bowl place all the ingredients starting first with the flour. Let process until all the dough comes into a ball and the sides of the processor are clean. Shape into a flat disc using flour is a little sticky. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes.
• Flour your working area and roll the dough fairly thin. Just to give you an idea, you should get approximately 38 to 40 pierogies out of this recipe.
• Cut the dough into a circle using a top from a wide mouth canning jar or anything which is about that size. Wet the one side of each circle and place a walnut sized portion of potato mixture onto the center. Fold over and pinch well. Set each pierogie on a parchment lined cookie sheet separated from each other.
• Continue to use up all the dough.
• Bring a 5 quart pot to a boil. Using a wooden spoon keep stirring the water as you place each pierogi in to cook. Cook only about 10 at a time. Let them surface and continue to cook for about 2 minutes.
• Have a large bowl of cold water on hand. Remove the pierogies and place them in the cold water for several minutes. Drain each one well so no water remains on them and roll them in some vegetable or canola oil shaking off the excess oil. This is needed so that they won't stick together.
• You may use quart sized ziploc bags to bag about 10. Lay them place on a cookie sheet and at this point they may be frozen until ready for use.
• When preparing about 10 or 12:.I wouldn't put any more in one fry pan.
• Using a large coated fry pan, melt 1/2 to 1 stick butter or margarine. Add 1 cup diced onions and saute until soft and golden but not brown. Add about 3 tablespoons of water and lay your unfrozen pierogies on top. Cover with lid and on low flame allow them to become soft and puffy. Be careful not to cook any faster because the bottoms will get browned.
• When ready to serve pour onto a dinner sized plate. It's easier to scoop out than from a bowl.
• Really, these are just the best and I've tried many recipes.

GRANDMA'S POLISH PEROGIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter, sour cream, eggs, egg yolk and oil. Stir the wet ingredients into the flour until well blended. Cover the bowl with a towel, and let stand for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Place potatoes into a pot, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, and mash with shredded cheese and cheese sauce while still hot. Season with onion salt, salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.
• Separate the perogie dough into two balls. Roll out one piece at a time on a lightly floured surface until it is thin enough to work with, but not too thin so that it tears. Cut into circles using a cookie cutter, perogie cutter, or a glass. Brush a little water around the edges of the circles, and spoon some filling into the center. Fold the circles over into half-circles, and press to seal the edges. Place perogies on a cookie sheet, and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to freezer storage bags or containers.
• To cook perogies: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Drop perogies in one at a time. They are done when they float to the top. Do not boil too long, or they will be soggy! Remove with a slotted spoon.

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.

PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Place the sour cream in a large bowl, and mix in flour to make a dough. Roll the dough out on a floured surface about 1/16 inch thick, and cut rounds about 3 1/2 inches across using a cookie cutter or a glass. Re-roll the unused dough to make more rounds, up to 4 times -- after that, it gets hard to work with.
• Place about 1 teaspoon of mashed potatoes in the center of each dough round, fold over into a half-moon shape, and press and seal the edges with a fork. Set the filled pierogies aside under a towel to prevent drying.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat, and cook and stir the onions until translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the cooked onions and set aside, leaving butter in the skillet.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil, and carefully drop a few filled pierogies at a time into the boiling water. After they float to the surface, allow them to gently boil for about 4 minutes.
• Re-heat the butter in the skillet over medium heat. Gently scoop the pierogies out of the water (they break easily) and place them in the skillet to brown on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Place the fried pierogies on a buttered baking sheet, sprinkle them with the cooked onions, and keep warm in the oven on low setting until served.

PIEROGI DOUGH

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Make a well in the center.
• In a separate bowl mix together the vegetable oil, warm water, and beaten egg. Pour into the well of the dry ingredients. Knead dough for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Cover dough and let rest for 2 hours. Roll out and fill as desired.