Crab Pierogies Recipes

BUFFALO PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven (making sure it is no more than two-thirds full) to 375 degrees F.
• As the oil comes to temperature, make the buffalo sauce. Combine the hot sauce, butter and cayenne in a small saucepan over medium heat; keep warm.
• Fry the pierogies in two batches of 12. (The oil will pop and foam at first, but will settle in about 1 minute. Watch the temperature to try to maintain the heat, as frozen pierogies will initially drop the temperature by about 30 degrees.) Fry until golden brown, about 6 minutes, then drain on a sheet tray lined with a wire rack. While the pierogies are still warm, toss them in the buffalo sauce and serve on platter drizzled with the Blue Cheese Dressing.
• Combine the sour cream, blue cheese, mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, salt and pepper in a bowl.

BASIC PIEROGI

Steps:

• Make the dough: Whisk together egg and sour cream. Whisk in milk and water. Stir in flour, 1 cup at a time.
• Turn out dough onto a floured surface. (Dough will be loose and sticky.) Using a bench scraper, turn and fold dough to knead, dusting with flour as needed, until elastic and no longer sticky, 8 to 10 minutes. (Dough will come together as you knead it. Be careful not to add too much flour, since it will toughen the dough.) Cover with an inverted bowl; let rest for 1 hour.
• Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a clean linen towel, and dust generouslywith cornmeal to prevent sticking.
• Roll out 1 piece of dough on a lightly floured surface into a 1/8-inch-thick round (keep other pieces covered).
• Cut out circles very close together, using a 3-inch cutter or glass (5 inches for the plum version). Cover with plasticwrap to prevent dough from drying. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Fill pierogi: Place filling in center of each dough circle. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Holding 1 circle in your hand, fold dough over filling. Pinch edges, forming a well-sealed crescent.
• Transfer to cornmeal-dusted towel, and loosely cover with plastic wrap. Repeat with remaining dough circles and filling. Working in batches, transfer pierogi to boiling water. They will sink to the bottom and then rise. Once they have risen, cook through, about 2 minutes more (or up to 4 minutes for plum pierogi, depending on ripeness). For savory pierogi, coat a platter with half the butter. Transfer pierogi to platter using a slotted spoon. Drizzle tops with remaining butter, and season with salt. For sweet pierogi, transfer to a platter using a slotted spoon, and dot with sour cream.

PIEROGIES AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, reserving drippings, and set aside.
• Heat bacon drippings over medium heat and stir in cabbage and onion; cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, vegetable oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and bacon; cook uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare pierogies according to package directions; drain. Combine pierogies with cabbage mixture and serve.

CRAB PIEROGIES

Steps:

• In a food processor pulse flour and salt.
• Add eggs and cream cheese process for about 15-20 seconds.
• Slowly add water until dough forms a ball. Add more flour if dough is too sticky
• Let dough rest 20-25 minutes
• (Start boiling large pot of water with salt and a little bit of olive oil).
• Roll out half the dough (roll VERY thin).
• Use a large rimmed glass (like a martini glass) or round cookie cuter to cut out 4-5 inch circles.
• Fill each circle with 1 to 2 Tablespoons of filling
• Fold over ensuring that there is no air inside and edges are sealed. (I pinch edges together and then use a fork to seal each pierogie).
• Cook about 8-10 at a time in the boiling water. Once they rise to the top of the water (approx 3-5 mins) remove with slotted spoon and top with butter/sauteed onions.
• I like to sautee onions and then carefully toss the boiled pierogies into the pan to get them crispy. MMmm! Enjoy!

LOBSTER PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Roll dough to 1/8-inch thick. Cut dough into 2-inch circles. Wrap and set aside. Boil potatoes in salted water until tender and drain. Place through ricer and fold in truffle butter and chives. Fold in lobster meat. Check seasoning.
• To assemble: Place a heaping teaspoon of the lobster mixture on half of each circle of dough. Fold the circles in half to make half moon shapes and crimp the edges to seal. Boil the pierogies in water until they float, about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain. Saute until golden brown in butter.
• Place flour in bowl and form a well. Add remaining ingredients and mix by hand. Form in a ball, wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

CHESAPEAKE BAY PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Combine crabmeat, scallion, red bell pepper, mayonnaise, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, Tabasco sauce, and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs in a medium bowl; mix well.
• Shape mixture into four crab cakes. Dredge crab cakes in remaining breadcrumbs and place on plate; cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Sprinkle pierogies with remaining 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning.
• Sauté pierogies in a 12-inch skillet as box directs; remove to plate.
• In same skillet, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add crab cakes; cook until golden, about 2 minutes per side, adding more oil if necessary.
• Serve crab cakes and pierogies on serving platter. Makes 4 servings. You can also serve with a tossed salad.

PIEROGIES WITH CABBAGE, BACON, AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Parboil pierogies in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water , uncovered, stirring occasionally, 1 minute less than package instructions indicate (pierogies will not be completely cooked). Transfer with a slotted spoon to a colander to drain. Pat dry.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté half of pierogies, turning over once, until golden, about 4 minutes per batch. Transfer to a large platter and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet and sauté remaining pierogies in same manner, transferring to platter.
• Cook bacon in same skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp and golden, 6 to 8 minutes, then transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet, then add remaining tablespoon oil and sauté onion over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden, about 8 minutes. Reduce heat to moderate, then stir in garlic, cabbage, water, and salt and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to platter with pierogies and sprinkle with bacon and dill.