PIEROGI DOUGH RECIPE SOUR CREAM RECIPES

Steps:

• Tip four cups of flour onto your work surface, make a shallow well.
• Add sour cream in. Mix until combined - with your hands or with an electric mixer.
• If the dough feels too sticky to handle, add more flour.
• Dust both hands with flour and start kneading to form the dough.  
• Cover the dough with a cloth or a large bowl. Set aside for 20-30 minutes. You can let the dough rest longer, even up to a few hours.
• Dust the worktop with some extra flour and transfer the dough onto it. Knead the dough for a minute or two. Cut a smaller piece of the dough off and roll it out - the thinner, the better. 
• Cut out the circles - I use a rim of a glass, but a round cookie cutter works too. The size is up to you, but roughly 3 inches (8 cm) seems optimal.
• Scoop 1 tablespoon of pierogi filling of your choice and place it in the center of each circle. 
• Press the edges and seal each dumpling.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil, then reduce the heat to medium. Drop in pierogi in small batches, a few at the time. Wait for them to float, once they do - continue cooking for another minute. Remove them with a slotted spoon onto a plate.
• Continue until you’re out of pierogi.
• Serve with melted butter or another topping of your choice. 
• If you prefer a crispier skin, melt some butter on a frying pan. Fry dumplings on both sides until golden.

Steps:

• Sift four cups of flour onto your work surface. Make a well and pour in a little bit of hot water. Mix everything together using your hands, aiming to evenly moisten the flour as you go.
• Gradually add more water and continue blending it with the flour. 
• Observe the forming dough and allow it to “drink” as much water as it requires. You’ll know it has enough liquid, once the dough doesn’t stick to your hands anymore. 
• Continue kneading until the dough is soft, elastic and there aren’t any lumps. It can take a while, so don’t get discouraged.
• Attach a dough hook. Place four cups of flour in the work bowl. 
• With the machine running, gradually add hot water, up to half a cup. 
• Once you’re done, stop the mixer. Poke the dough a bit with your fingers. Ideally, the dough should be soft, but still hold its shape when pinched. If it feels too loose - add a tablespoon of flour. If it feels too tough, add some water (a teaspoon at the time).
• Run the mixer for 5 minutes. After that time the dough should be soft, elastic and it shouldn’t stick to your hands.
• To let the gluten develop, cover the dough ball for 15-30 minutes and keep at room temperature. You can use a cloth or a warmed bowl placed upside-down.
• Once rested, divide the dough into workable chunks (I quartered it, but that’s up to you).
• Dust your working surface with flour. Roll out a chunk of dough, as thinly as you can. 
• Cut out circles, roughly 3 inches (7.5-8 cm) in diameter. You can use a round cookie cutter, or a glass rim.
• Place a tablespoon of your chosen filling in the middle of each pastry round. Fold the edges together, creating a semi-circular dumpling. Press the edges firmly. Continue, until you’re out of dough and the filling.
• Once all pierogi are assembled, boil a large pot of water. Drop in a few pierogi at the time, waiting for them to float. Once they do, cook for another minute. Then remove them with a slotted spoon. 
• Serve immediately with melted butter or another topping of your choice. Alternatively, melt a tablespoon of butter on a frying pan and fry pierogi on both sides until golden. If you would like to learn more, have a look at this post on how to cook pierogi.