Ukrainian Borsch With Pyrizhky Pyrohy Piroshki Recipes

UKRAINIAN BORSCH WITH PYRIZHKY (PYROHY) (PIROSHKI)

Steps:

• Day before: In 8-quart kettle, place beef, marrowbone, 1 Tablespoon salt and 2 quarts water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat; simmer, covered, 1 hour. Add tomatoes, quartered onion, celery, parsley, black peppers and bay leaves; simmer, covered, 2 hours.
• Remove from heat. Lift out beef. Discard marrowbone. Strain soup in colander. (There should be 9 or 10 cups.) Return soup and beef to kettle. Add cabbage, carrot, chopped onion, 2 Tablespoons fresh dill, the vinegar, sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; bring to boiling.
• Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 30 minutes, or until beef and vegetables are tender. Refrigerate overnight. Next day, skim off fat. Remove beef; cut into 1-inch cubes; coarsely chop 1 1/4 cups of the meat for the pyrizhky; return rest to soup along with beets. Makes 3 1/2 quarts.
• FOR THE PYRIZHKY: Remove patty shells from package; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes to soften.
• Meanwhile, in hot butter in small skillet, sauté onion 2 minutes. Add 3 Tablespoons sour cream, the 1 1/4 cup chopped beef, dill, salt, pepper; mix well; reserve and cool.
• Preheat oven to 425°F On lightly floured pastry cloth, roll EACH patty shell to make oblong 8 by 5 inches; cut in HALF crosswise. Spread a rounded tablespoon of filling on half of EACH piece. Fold other half over filling; crimp edges to seal; cut slits in top.
• Place on cookie sheet lined with heavy brown paper or parchment paper. Brush with egg yolk beaten with 1 Tablespoon water. Bake 15 minutes, or until puffed and golden. Makes 12.
• Meanwhile, heat soup gently to boiling. Serve with sour cream, dill and the warm pyrizhky.

UKRAINIAN PYRIZHKY WITH MEAT FILLING (STUFFED BUNS)

Steps:

• PYRIZHKY DOUGH: Dissolve the sugar and ginger in the lukewarm water, sprinkle the yeast over it, and let it stand for 10 minutes.
• To the hot scalded milk, add the butter, and cool to lukewarm.
• Add the eggs, salt, sugar, and yeast.
• Mix in enough flour to make a medium soft dough as for bread.
• Knead on a floured board until smooth and satiny.
• Return to the bowl, cover, and let it rise until double in bulk.
• Punch down, knead a few times in the bowl, and let it rise again.
• Use any favorite filling in the recipes that follow.
• TO MAKE THE PYRIZHKY, cut off small egg-sized pieces of dough, flatten each or roll 1/4 inch thick.
• Place a generous portion of the filling in the center, bring the edges together, and press to seal securely.
• (I wet the edges with a bit of beaten egg white and seal with well floured fingertips).
• All edges must be free of filling.
• Shape into an oblong with a plump center and tapering ends (like a football).
• This is the traditional shape of pyrizhky.
• As an alternative method, the dough may be rolled 1/4 inch thick, cut into squares, filled, and sealed as directed.
• Place, sealed side down, on a greased baking sheet, spacing them 1 to 1 1/2 inches apart.
• Cover and let them rise in a warm place until light, for about 1 hour.
• Brush them with a beaten egg diluted with 2 tablespoons of water or milk.
• Bake in a moderate oven (375 degree F) for 30 to 35 minutes depending on their size.
• MEAT FILLING: Cook the onion in half of the butter until it is tender.
• Add the remaining butter and the meat.
• Brown the meat lightly.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and cook over a low heat until done.
• Remove the meat.
• Stir the flour into the drippings.
• Add the soup stock or water, then cook, until the sauce comes to a boil.
• Combine with the meat and cool.
• Mix in the parsley and chopped eggs.
• *I like to use left-over cooked roast put through a meat grinder or food processor,is more flavourful.