RECIPE PEROGIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Sauerkraut Filling: Rinse the sauerkraut well in warm water, squeeze dry, and chop very fine.
• Cook the onion in the fat or shortening until tender.
• Add the sauerkraut and cream.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cook over low heat for 15 minutes or until sauerkraut is tender and the flavors blend.
• Do not over cook.
• Chill thoroughly.
• Mix the flour with the salt in a deep bowl.
• Add the egg, oil and water to make a medium soft dough.
• Knead on a floured board until the dough is smooth.
• Caution: Too much kneading will toughen the dough.
• Divide the dough into 2 parts.
• Cover and let stand for at least 10 minutes.
• Prepare the filling.
• The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape.
• Roll the dough quite thin on a floured board.
• Cut rounds with a large biscuit cutter, or as most old-world grandmothers did, with the open end of a glass.
• Put the round in the palm of your hand.
• Place a spoonful of filling in it, fold over to form a half circle and press the edges together with the fingers.
• The edges should be free of filling.
• Be sure the edges are sealed well to prevent the filling from running out.
• Place the pierogi on a floured board or tea towel and then cover with another tea towel to prevent them from drying out.
• COOKING: Drop a few pierogies into a large quantity of rapidly boiling salted water.
• Do not attempt to cook too many at a time.
• Stir VERY gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Continue boiling for 3-4 minutes.
• The cooling period will depend upon the size you made it, the thickness of the dough and the filling.
• Pierogies will be ready when they are puffed.
• Remove them with a perforated spoon or skimmer to a colander and drain thoroughly.
• Place in a deep dish, sprinkle generously with melted butter to prevent them from sticking.
• Cover and keep them hot until all are cooked.
• Serve in a large dish without piling or crowding them.
• Top with melted butter- chopped crisp bacon and/or chopped onions lightly browned in butter.
• REHEATING: One of the great things about pierogies, is that they can be made in large quantities, refrigerated, frozen and reheated without lost of quality.
• Many prefer reheated pierogies as compared to freshly boiled ones.
• To re-heat, you can 1) pan fry pierogies in butter or bacon fat until they are light in color or 2) heat the pierogies in the top of a double boiler or in the oven until they are hot and plump or 3) deep fry them.

Steps:

• FOR THE SAUERKRAUT FILLING: Note: You can fry your onions and bacon ahead of time.
• I bought the type of sauerkraut that you find in a jar, so first drain it and then rinse the sauerkraut well in warm water, squeeze it dry, and chop it up finely.
• Cook the onion or shallot in fat or shortening until tender and the flavors are blended.
• Add the sour cream to the sauerkraut, season with salt and pepper.
• Cook in a saucepan on low for 15 minutes until the sauerkraut is tender. Do not over cook this!
• Chill in the fridge until cold and then fill the perogies.
• FOR THE PEROGIES
• Put the flour, butter and salt into the food processor with the lid on and turn on the machine. Put the water through the feeding tube in a stream. Let this process until a ball of dough is formed. Let the dough sit for a half hour and it will be easier to work with. I put mine in a plastic bag on the counter.
• Once the dough has set and the sauerkraut is chilled roll out the dough and use a 4" round cookie cutter to cut out your perogies. Fill each being careful not to get any on the edges. Seal shut tightly.
• Place the perogies on a floured surface so they won't stick. Cover with a tea towel.
• Drop the perogies into a large pot of boiling water. When they float up to the surface they are done. Don't put too many in the pot at once, maybe 6 at the most, otherwise this will cool your water down too much.
• Melt some butter and put it into the bottom of an oven proof dish and add your first layer of perogies I use a 9x13" casserole dish. I layer the perogies with fried bacon and onions and more butter. These stick easily so make sure you have enough butter on them.
• Place in the oven and keep warm until you're ready to eat. I love a dollop of sour cream on the side.
• Enjoy!