I always feel lucky when someone shares a recipe with me. Sharing a favorite family recipe is opening a window to their table, to their world and an opportunity for me to discover something new.
Over the last few months I have had the opportunity to enjoy traditional Polish foods brought to me by a new friend. Ola knows I enjoy food and she has graced me with the opportunity to enjoy handmade pierogies, rustic European breads and a cold summer soup (a borscht of sorts) filled with beets, fennel and loads of other mild fresh vegetables. I am honored, honored that she wants to share her food and culture with me. I have really enjoyed the opportunity.
To honor her, I tried my hand at making authentic Polish pierogies based on the recipe that she shared with me. Although not difficult, it was a labor of love. If you are not familiar with perogies it is a dumpling that can be filled with potatoes, meat or vegetables, that is then sauteed after being boiled. Periogies are a traditional food that are enjoyed in Eastern Europe and Russia.
I made two types of perogies. The first was a mushroom and sauerkraut that was quite good. The second was a potato, cheddar and bacon pierogie, a favorite of my son.
I discovered that playing with dough was almost as much fun as playing in the dirt in my garden.
The result was plenty of pierogies that could be frozen for later use and a new appreciation for the simplicity of ingredients, that produce amazing flavors.
Homemade Authentic Polish Pierogies–Mushroom and Sauerkraut
Recipe adapted from Ola Jaskolska
Ingredients for Pierogi Dough:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon of butter or oil
1 large egg, whisked
1-1/8 cups warm water
Note: I cheated here and added about a 1/4 cup of sour cream
Directions:
Sift the flour to a bowl. Make a pit in the flour, add salt, butter or oil, sour cream (optional) and the egg. Gradually, add water, Turn the dough out on a floured board and knead the dough till it becomes soft and flexible (about 10 minutes).
Divide the dough in sections to roll it out easily (ideally, the dough should be about 1/8 inch-thick). Cut circles of dough (2″ for small pierogies and 3-3 1/2 ” for large pierogies). You can roll each circle again to make it a little bit stretched. It will help to seal the pierogies after filling them.
Mushroom and Sauerkraut Filling
Ingredients:
A big jar/can of sauerkraut, that is shredded finely, drained
Fresh mushrooms (any variety or mixture is good)
2 onions, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter or oil
Directions:
Melt butter in a medium frying pan. Over medium heat, add onions, mushrooms and sauerkraut, salt and pepper, until onions are soft. Put aside.
Preparing the Pierogies:
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. Each batch of dough makes abut 12-15 pierogies, depending on size.
Boil the pierogies 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.
Melt butter in a large frying pan (you can add chopped onions too, saute until soft). Then add the pierogies and pan fry until lightly crispy. Serve with a side of sour cream or salad.
Enjoy!
Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen
You know I've never eaten a pierogie, although I would love to. I'm not much of a sauerkraut person myself, but my husband definitely is. I'm positive he would gobble these up.Sam
From the Kitchen
My mother-in-law could turn out those delicious like \”packages\” quicker than the water could boil to start them off in. She did many different kinds including blueberry and cherry filled ones for dessert. I've never attempted them. We do have many sources to get them fresh around Chicago. There are also many festivals that serve them as well. I am tempted to try making my own–someday.Best,Bonnie
Schnitzel and the Trout
How delicious and it looks like yours were very successful. And sauerkraut…you are speaking to my European roots!!!
Lynn
How fun! They are truly on my list of things I want to make:@)
That Girl
Pierogies might be my favorite Polish food.
Tina
Nice! I love your counter tops very much.I have not had a pierogie in years. Good stuff and sharing recipes is always fun!
Big Dude
Great that you are learning new cooking that you can help keep alive by passing it on – too much is being lost. I've been wanting to make these and they will be perfect to try out our 3 1/2\” empanada/pierogi/meat pie/fruit pie/ mini-calzone maker
tasteofbeirut
I have a russian friend here who'd love to share these with me; I love the filling and the versatility.
Dining Alone
I grew up in Western PA where there are a lot of Polish families so I have been enjoying pierogies my whole life, lucky me 🙂 Yours look delicious!
Beth
Pierogies are delicious. I think the cheddar one sounds great too!
tasteofbeirut
Pierogies are like our sambuseks, just different; have a French friend married to a Russian whose first task when she married the man was to learn how to make these; would love to make them too and I adore these fillings!
Michelle
Did you substitute sour cream for something, or just add it in addition to the other ingredients?I can't wait to try these! 🙂
Rosaria Williams
They look most delicious!
Michelle
These look so very good.
Carolyn from Cowlick Cottage Farm
A beautiful post, and thank you for sharing the recipe with us! Now we are all lucky, too. But I'm still not sure that playing with dough is quite as much fun as playing in the dirt!
ThatJewCanCook
Potato, bacon and cheddar pierogie? I'm with your son, no contest, hands down we have a winner!
Karen
I am part Polish. My grandmother would make hundreds at a time. Fond memories. I love them! I will send you our Family recipe to add to your collection, they are slightly different. Reading your post brought back warm fuzzy feelings … A bit teary. Karen B.
chow and chatter
wow what fun love these 🙂 got my Russian neighbors mum to do with me once
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types
What fun to make a connection of friendship, culture and good taste with a new friend through food.
Barbara
We had Polish friends when I was younger and she gave me two recipes. This was one and the other was a cookie called Kolacky. Double yum on both recipes!Love the filling here, Velva!
Kitchen Belleicious
Oh my! I am so excited because the other day I wanted to make Chinese dumplings but couldn't find a recipe I really trusted and this is a nice twist/related recipe that I can see really works. Can't wait to give it a shot!
Namitha
Wonderful dumplings. So new to me, thanks Velva 🙂
The JR
Nice…I don't do dough. Wish I could find time to learn.
Anonymous
When we moved to Wisconsin, my NC sister-in-law came to see us and was fascinated with the German/Polish influence there. She commented on it as we rode around town one day. She pointed a sign and said, \”Look–EVERYTHING is Polish up here!\” The sign said CARS – Wash and Polish.
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
How wonderful to have a friend share such wonderful, ethnic recipes with you. I would love the opportunity to learn from someone like that. Beautiful pierogies! I don't think I've never had one but would love to try them.
Susan Fields
Yum! My grandmother used to make homemade pierogies.
Foodiewife
It has been forever since I've had a pierogi. It's also on my recipe bucket list. You did a fantastic job!
Rosa's Yummy Yums
Delicious looking! That is a dish I love. I made that speciality once and found it great.Cheers,Rosa
Rambling Tart
Ohhhh, I LOVE perogies, Velva!! 🙂 My favorite ones are the potato, cheddar and bacon. 🙂 Slathered in sour cream and even MORE bacon. So naughty but absolutely wonderful. 🙂
Kim
Velva – Looks like your first try at pierogies was a major success! Pierogies are very popular where I'm from in northern Ohio. In fact, they sell them with nearly 100 different fillings. At home I can only find Mrs. T's. Definitely need to start making my own. Love this post!
Cathy at Wives with Knives
Your perogies look so delicious, Velva. I've never made them at home and I think I'm missing out on something very good. Thanks for the recipes.
Suzan
Oh Velva,I have never heard of perogies before!! They seem so easy to make!! I may add a little cheese with everything else!! Thanks much!
Carrie @ Cottage Cozy
My husband is 50% Polish…so perogies are a favorite of his! These look fabulous…what a sweet friend!
Salsa Verde
A fantastic and very delicious delicacy that looks outstanding and very yummy!!Cheers,Lia.
Chris
I have not had the pleasure of having hand made peirogi before. Yours look so light and crispy, like the skins are mini crepes.
Magic of Spice
Oh wow, you did a beautiful job with these…they look fantastic!