Today @stacyking and I are making pierogies.
Step 1 was last night. We peeled a batch of yellow potatoes, boiled them until very soft, then mashed them with grated old cheddar and parsley.
Important: Save that potato water! The starchy water will be used later in the dough.
Step 1 was last night. We peeled a batch of yellow potatoes, boiled them until very soft, then mashed them with grated old cheddar and parsley.
Important: Save that potato water! The starchy water will be used later in the dough.
Step 2: Once the potato-cheese mixture cooled, we rolled them into little balls and stored them in the fridge overnight.
Each of these will be the filling for a perogie.
Each of these will be the filling for a perogie.
You can do this whole process in one day, but getting the filling done the night before saves a bit of hassle juggling both parts (dough and filling) at once in the kitchen.
The dough ingredients are really simple:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◾" title="Black medium small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black medium small square">All-purpose white flour (Grandma swears by Five Roses, but any all-purpose non-cake flour should work)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◾" title="Black medium small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black medium small square">2-3 Eggs
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◾" title="Black medium small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black medium small square">Strained potato water
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="◾" title="Black medium small square" aria-label="Emoji: Black medium small square">Pinch of salt
I& #39;ll go through how it all comes together here...
I& #39;ll go through how it all comes together here...
Step 3: Beat the eggs. Add some potato water.
Step 4: Put 4 cups of flour on your work surface. Make a well. Pour liquid in.
Step 5: Incorporate together + knead. Too sticky? Add flour. Too dry? Add potato water.
(No photos here because my hands were covered in flour + dough)
Step 4: Put 4 cups of flour on your work surface. Make a well. Pour liquid in.
Step 5: Incorporate together + knead. Too sticky? Add flour. Too dry? Add potato water.
(No photos here because my hands were covered in flour + dough)
Step 6: Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes. Throw the dough ball down on the counter a couple times to get out any air bubbles.
If you cut the dough in half, you shouldn& #39;t see air bubbles in there.
Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 40-60 min.
If you cut the dough in half, you shouldn& #39;t see air bubbles in there.
Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for 40-60 min.
Step 7: Dough gets separated into manageable sections and rolled out thin with a bit of extra flour so it doesn& #39;t stick.
Step 8: Use a wide glass, mug or circle template to cut circles.
Step 8: Use a wide glass, mug or circle template to cut circles.
Step 9: Flatten filling a bit in the middle, then fold over and pinch dough closed.
If the dough doesn& #39;t seal, use a bit of water along the edge and press together.
Step 10: Set the pierogies in rows on parchment paper and put the trays in the freezer.
If the dough doesn& #39;t seal, use a bit of water along the edge and press together.
Step 10: Set the pierogies in rows on parchment paper and put the trays in the freezer.
We over estimated on filling, so I whipped up another batch of dough and these ones turned out even nicer.
Practice makes perfect.
Practice makes perfect.
And here& #39;s dinner, with our pierogies as the main course, served with sour cream, salt and pepper.
Ukranian comfort food achieved.
Not as good as dinner with Grandma, but as close as we& #39;re going to get right now.
Ukranian comfort food achieved.
Not as good as dinner with Grandma, but as close as we& #39;re going to get right now.
I can& #39;t eat store bought pierogies. When I was in college one of my friends at residence bought a huge bag from the grocery store and I tried them - horrifying. Bland sticky dough with a tiny puck of orange muck in the middle...and he thought they were good!