Ukrainian Best Potato Perogies Varenyky In Brown Butter Recipes

UKRAINIAN OLHA'S VARENYKY (PEROGIES)

Steps:

• To make the dough, combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add the soft butter and evaporated milk; stir gently until all the liquid is absorbed. Add water only as needed, kneading continuously until dough sticks together. Place dough into a greased bowl, turn to coat, and let rest for 30 minutes.
• To make the potato filling, place potatoes into a saucepan with water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside. Melt 1/2 cup butter in a medium skillet, over medium heat. Saute onions in butter until tender. Mix the onions into the potatoes along with the cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• To make the sauerkraut and cabbage filling, pour the drained sauerkraut into a large saucepan. In a medium skillet, saute 2 onions in 1/2 cup butter until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir the onions into the sauerkraut along with the cabbage and chicken bouillon cube. Cook over low heat until liquid evaporates. Season with pepper and remove from heat. Allow the mixture to cool, then run through a grinder or food processor.
• Remove the dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out to 1/8 inch in thickness. Cut into 3 inch circles. Place one tablespoon of filling onto one side of the circle. Fold the other half over and press the edges to seal. Place finished dumplings onto a floured tray and keep covered.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop 10 or so dumplings into the water at a time. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove to a colander to drain. Place finished dumplings onto a lightly oiled dish and turn them to coat with a thin layer. This will keep them from sticking together. Serve dumplings with fried onions and sour cream. Cooled dumplings also can be fried in oil and butter for a nice crispy surface.

UKRAINIAN ZENIA'S POTATO VARENYKY (PEROGIES, PYROHY)

Steps:

• PREPARE THE FILLING FIRST: Saute the onion in the butter until softened, about 6 minutes.
• Combine with the potatoes and cheese and mix well.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Let cool thoroughly before using.
• (The filling can be made a day ahead and kept covered and refrigerated.
• Bring to room temperature before using.).
• TO MAKE THE DOUGH: Combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl.
• Add the egg yolks, mashed potatoes, melted butter and just enough of the water to form a medium-soft dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. (Too much kneading will make the dough tough.).
• Divide the dough in half and cover with an inverted bowl.
• Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Roll out the dough until it is quite thin and cut rounds about 2 to 3 inches wide with a large biscuit cutter.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a little salt.
• To each round of dough, add a spoonful of filling ad fold over to form a half circle.
• Press the edges together with well floured fingers, making sure the varenyky are well sealed.
• Transfer them to a lightly floured surface and cover them with a clean tea towel so that they do not dry out.
• Drop a few at a time into the boiling water, stirring gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Boil for 3 to 4 minutes, at which point they should be puffed and bobbing on the surface.
• (The thinner the dough and the smaller the pyrohy, the quicker they will cook.).
• Transfer with a slotted spoon to a colander, drain thoroughly and place in a warmed bowl.
• Drizzle with melted butter and toss gently to keep them from sticking together.
• Cover and keep warm while you cook the remaining varenyky.
• Serve with fried onions and sour cream. Serve hot. Makes 4 serving.
• Great Potatoes.

UKRAINIAN PIROHI / AKA VARENYKY

Steps:

• Prepare potatoes as you would for mashed potatoes until tender and then drain and keep in the pot.
• At the same time the potatoes are cooking, sauté the onions in the entire pound of margarine.
• When the onions are done, using a slotted spoon, scoop out about 3/4 of the onions and put into the pot of potatoes.
• You will be saving almost all the margarine for the end of the recipe with a little bit of the onions.
• Also add the shredded cheddar cheese to the potatoes.
• Then using an electric mixer, mash the potato mixture until as smooth as possible.
• It will be lumpy somewhat with the onions in it.
• At that time, add garlic and salt and pepper to your own taste and mix until done.
• Set aside to cool while you work on the dough.
• In a large bowl, put about 6 cups of flour in making a well in the middle.
• In the well, put in one teaspoons.
• Salt, both eggs (already slightly beaten), and about one cup of water.
• Mix well with a strong wooden spoon and add water or flour as needed until the dough is formed.
• When it's almost ready it will no longer stick to the sides of the bowl.
• Place the dough on a well-floured surface and knead it until it is smooth and shiny.
• Use flour as needed, but not too stiff.
• Set aside and let the dough rest.
• Fill a large 6-8 quart pot with water, add a teaspoon of salt, and bring the water to rolling boil.
• The process of the making the pyrohis is easy but it is a long one.
• Extra hands are always welcome in making this delicious meal.
• On one side of your table, place a clean sheet folded to fit your space and flour this very well.
• It will be the place you will set your pirohis between the making and actual boiling of them.
• If your surface is not floured, they will stick and fall apart in the boiling process.
• Cut off about 1/3 of the dough and rolls with a rolling pin until thin (not too thin).
• Cut circles with a round biscuit cutter or a glass.
• Keep hands floured so the dough doesn't stick to them and stretch out dough a little a a time until there is enough space to put the potato mixture inches.
• With a teaspoon, fill the center of the dough with the potato mixture and fold the dough over and pinch the edges tight with floured fingers to form a crescent.
• Put the completed pirohi on your well-floured sheet and continue the process until all your pirohi are done.
• If the water is boiling too much, turn down until you are ready to boil them.
• Now the actual cooking starts.
• Put about a dozen of the pirohi in the boiling water and stir once easily to loosen them.
• Now let them boil until they float to the top of the pot and let them boil for another minute or so.
• Remove them one at a time with a large slotted spoon and put them into a colander to drain.
• Use a large cake pan or a roaster pan and drizzle the bottom with the extra onion margarine.
• Place the drained pirohi in the pan and cover them with a little margarine mixture and shake the pan back and forth to keep the pirohis from sticking to each other.
• Repeat the process until all the pirohi are done.
• Keep the large pan or roaster in the oven only on warm and cover them with foil or lid to keep them from drying out.
• Any extra dough: Roll out thin on the floured surface and cut into strips, boil, drain and use for buttered noodles or holushki (sautéed cabbage and noodles.) I guarantee-- if you take the time to make these babies-- your family will LOVE them-- and you will have tasted two of the best of the Ukrainian cuisine around!
• MMM-MMM Dobreeeeee (good).

UKRAINIAN VARENYKY WITH ONION BUTTER (PEROGIES)

Steps:

• DOUGH: Combine flour, baking powder add salt in food processor.
• Process for 3 seconds.
• With motor running, slowly add cooking oil and enough warm water through feed chute until a ball begins to form.
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface.
• Knead 3 to 4 times until smooth.
• Cover with plastic wrap.
• Let stand for 20 minutes.
• ONION BUTTER: Saute onion in butter in small saucepan on medium-low for about 10 minutes until onion is soft but not brown.
• Keep hot.
• TWO CHEESE POTATO FILLING: Mix first 4 ingredients in medium bowl until Cheddar cheese melts and mixture is evenly moist.
• Makes about 2 1/4 cups filling.
• Divide dough into 4 equal portions.
• Roll out 1 portion into a rope about 12 inches long.
• Keep other portions covered.
• Cut at 1 inch intervals.
• Press balls slightly to flatten.
• Cover with plastic wrap.
• Stretch and press 1 ball to about 2 1/2 inches in diameter or roll out with rolling pin.
• Place in palm of hand.
• Place about 2 teaspoons filling centre.
• I like to make the potato filling a day ahead so that it is cold.
• Fold dough in half.
• With well floured fingers, pinch edges firmly together to seal.
• Edges of dough may be moistened if desired.
• Arrange in single layer on lightly floured tea towel-lined baking sheet.
• Cover with tea towel to prevent drying.
• Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Cook varenyky, in batches, in boiling water and salt in large pot or Dutch oven for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until varenyky float to top.
• Allow to bob for 1 minute.
• Remove using slotted spoon.
• Drain.
• Turn into large bowl.
• Drizzle some Onion Butter over each varenyky batch.
• Gently shake to mix and prevent sticking.
• Makes 4 dozen varenyky.
• VARIATION: Add 6 bacon slices, cooked crisp and crumbled, to Two Cheese Potato Filling.
• VARIATION: After varenyky are cooked, sauté, in batches, in 2 teaspoons butter in frying pan until lightly browned.
• TO MAKE AHEAD: Place filled varenyky (cooked or uncooked) on baking sheet, in layers between waxed paper or parchment paper.
• Cover.
• Freeze until solid.
• To remove varenyky, hit baking sheet on counter to pop them off.
• Store in resealable freezer bags in freezer.
• To cook from frozen, do not thaw.
• Boil, as above, increasing cooking time after they float to top.
• Serve with sour cream.

UKRAINIAN BEST POTATO PEROGIES-VARENYKY IN BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• FOR THE FILLING, cook potatoes in boiling salted water until tender, and drain. If you have a ricer, rice potatoes and stir in butter while hot, otherwise mash with electric beaters. Season to taste and add nutmeg. If adding cheese, allow potatoes to cool, then stir in grated cheese. Chill potato filling before using.
• FOR THE DOUGH, combine flour and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk and water. Add liquid to flour and stir until blended. The dough should be soft enough that it sticks to the bottom of the bowl, but not so soft that it doesn't hold its shape. You can always add a little more liquid or flour if you need to. Cover dough and let rest 1 hour.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough as thinly as possible without tearing. Use a round cutter 3 inches in diameter and cut out circles of dough. Place 1 tablespoons of potato filling into the center of each perogy and pinch the perogy edges closed. Perogies can be frozen in one layer on a baking sheet or kept chilled until ready to cook.
• To serve, melt butter in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Add onions, stirring constantly until onions are richly browned. Reduce heat to medium low.
• TO BOIL VARENYKY: In a pot of boiling salted water, cook about half of the perogies until they float, about 5 minutes. Remove from water with a slotted spoon, add to browned butter and gently stir with rubber spatula or wooden spoon to coat them, cook remaining perogies and stir gently into browned butter. Makes 24 to 30 perogies.