Famous Polish Pierogies

By Kim Biegacki
@pistachyoo

Pierogies should be called "Pillows of Heaven" as they are one delectable bite of fluff mainly filled with potatoes. I just love them! This recipe I've posted is from a cooking class with Chef Tad that I and my Dad (John) attended so that we could get a refresher from days gone by when his Bubba (Grandma Karski) and his Mum (Mary Jane) used to make them. When my mother married my Dad in 1985, it was the first time I had homemade pierogies & they were heavenly!
They make for a fantastic meal and I've included 3 of our favorite fillings for you.

Rating:

★★★★★ 1 vote

Comments:

15 Comments

Serves:

5 dozen or more

Prep:

3 Hr 30 Min

Cook:

15 Min

Method:

Pan Fry

Ingredients

1 large: egg, lightly whisked
2 Tbsp: sour cream
1 c: whole milk
1 c: water
5 c: all purpose flour
2 tsp: salt
1 c: mushrooms, assorted and chopped
2 c: sauerkraut
1 small: onion, chopped
2-3 Tbsp: butter
: salt & pepper
5 medium: potatoes, boiled, peeled and mashed
8 oz: extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 - 1/3 c: jalapenos, diced fine (jarred or fresh)
1 - 2 Tbsp: butter
: salt & pepper to taste
5 medium: potatoes, peeled, steamed and mashed
1 medium: onion, diced & sauteed in butter
1/4 c: butter, approx.
1 stick: butter
1 medium: onion, diced
6 - 8 clove: garlic, minced

How to Make Famous Polish Pierogies

Step-by-Step

1Whisk egg and sour cream together. Then whisk in milk and water. With a wooden spoon stir in flour 1 cup at a time until a loose sticky dough forms.
2Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and turn and fold dough to knead, dusting with flour as needed until elastic and no longer sticky about 8-10 minutes.
(Be careful not to add too much flour, which will toughen the dough).
3Cover with inverted bowl and let rest for 1 hour.
4Spray a baking sheet with oil to put your pierogies on so they wont stick or spray wax paper lightly with oil.

Divide dough into 4 equal parts. Wrap the 3 pieces in plastic wrap and roll out the 4th on a lightly floured surface until 1/8 inch thick. Use a 3 inch biscuit cutter or a glass about the same size to cut out your circles of dough. Try your best to cut as close to one another as possible. Set aside scraps to be reworked.
5Place about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture of your choice into the center of each circle. Fold in half and pinch closed. If you have trouble with it closing just use a dab of water to it for closure. Place on your baking sheet or lightly greased wax paper.
6Boil some water in a large pot with some salt. Drop 10 - 12 pierogies at a time into the water. They will cook for about 5 minutes or until they float to the top. Remove them when finished.
7Have a pan ready with your onion & garlic sauce.....cook up those onions & garlic low and slow....stirring occasionally. You want your onions & garlic nice and tender. Add some of your pierogies and cook on both sides till they are lightly browned.
8Don't laugh to hard....these are my first attempt at making pierogies. They look kinda sad but they tasted fantastic. lol
Of course, Dad made his perfectly shaped and so beautiful.
9Here is a pic of Dad & I getting ready to stuff our pierogies. This was a class we took as Dad wanted a refresher since his Bubba and Mum have passed. He had forgotten some details. I'll post a few pics of Dad & I last year making pierogies at my house.
10Last year Dad & I making pierogies at my house. I think we ended up with 10 dozen or more. Worked all day on them....took a lot longer than we thought it would. Hopefully we will get faster this year.
Dad rolling out the dough and cutting.
11Here is what I was working on...all the fillings and then I stuffed them all.
12Our finished pierogies on the counter which we froze most all of them.
13Here were some that I cooked up to sample that night.