Pierogies

About:Pierogies, that originated in the 13th century by the Slavic people, aren’t just some savory dish but a quite common image that pops into one’s head when thinking of Polish food. They are a culturally important dish where their importance goes back to the 17th century were they were considered a staple of Polish diet. Originally they were known as peasant’s food but eventually their popularity made it to the nobles and higher social classes. They contain dough shaped semi-circles filled with a variety of fillings that could be anywhere from chicken and mushroom to blueberries. They are often an important dish in Polish weddings, Christmas Eve dinner, and Easter!

Ingredients for Dough:

1 cup warm water

3 tablespoons canola oil

3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

Filling Ideas: cottage cheesecabbage blueberriesmushroomsanything you want

Directions:

1. Combine water and oil in a large bowl.

2. Add 2 cups of flour with a fork and add salt, keep 1 cup of floor to the side. A loose dough

3. should be formed once it is kneaded.

4. Sprinkle your counter with flour then turn the dough onto it and continue to knead the dough.

5. Add the cup of flour you put on the side slowly until the dough becomes elastic. Additional flour may be needed if dough is not elastic.

6. Set water with a little bit of salt to boil for cooking the pierogies later on.

7. Roll dough out to about 1/16 of an inch and split in half to work with ½ at a time.

8. Sprinkle the top with flour.

9.Use cups 3.5 in in diameter to cut out circles.

10. Place a tablespoon of filling inside the circles. Then wet outer edge of circle and enclose the pierogie.

11. Next boil the pierogi in the water you boiled.

12. (Optional) Put a little bit of oil on a frying pan and fry the pierogies until golden brown.

13. Serve with sour cream and sugar with a sweet filling pierogi or onion for a non-sweet filling.