Goat Cheese Pierogies Recipes

POTATO AND GOAT CHEESE PIEROGI

Steps:

• Place potato in a large pan, and cover by 2 inches with cold water. Add 1 tablespoon salt, and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium, and cook until tender, about 40 minutes. Drain, and holding the potato with a kitchen towel, peel while hot. Pass potato through a food mill, fitted with the finest disk, or a potato ricer into a large bowl.
• Add goat cheese, shallot, egg yolk, cream, sage, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper, and mix well using a wooden spoon.
• To form dumplings, place a circle of pierogi dough on a work surface, and put a heaping teaspoon filling toward the front of the circle. Moisten the edges of the dough with water, and fold in half around the filling to form a semicircle, firmly pinching the edges closed. Set aside on a lightly floured baking sheet. Continue to fill and form pierogi, keeping them covered with plastic wrap, until all the dough is used up.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and add half the pierogi. Boil gently until they float to the surface, about 2 minutes, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more. Lift out with a slotted spoon, and repeat with remaining pierogi. Serve immediately.

POTATO AND GOAT CHEESE PIEROGIES

Steps:

• For the dough: Combine flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and baking powder in a bowl and mix well. Add egg, sour cream, water, and canola oil and knead by hand or in a stand mixer fitted with dough hook attachment for 8 to 10 minutes.
• For the potato filling: Mix together the potatoes, goat cheese, red onion, chives, salt, and pepper, to taste. Add the heavy cream as needed to adjust the consistency.
• For the caramelized onions: Cook the onions with 3 tablespoons butter very slowly over low heat. Season the onions with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and chopped thyme.
• For the truffe creme fraiche: Roll dough into 1/8-inch sheets and then cut 2-inch circles out of that. Place heaping tablespoon of filling onto each circle and fold into half-moon shape. Seal with beaten egg.
• To serve, gently saute pierogies in olive oil, top with onions and creme fraiche.

SIMPLY POTATOES GOAT CHEESE PIEROGIES

Steps:

• In a medium size bowl, combine potatoes, flour, salt, and egg yolk. Work together until a dough forms. Flour a countertop with additional flour and begin to knead the dough for about two minutes. You do not want the dough to be too sticky, so add more flour as kneaded (ha, get it?).
• Let dough sit while you prepare the filling. In a medium bowl stir together all the ingredient for the filling until combined.
• Roll pierogie dough out and cut out small circles about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/6 of an inch thick. I know these measurements sound specific, but don't worry if it isn't exact. You just want the dough to be somewhat thin, but not paper thin, and want a wide enough circle so you can stuff the pierogie.
• Place slightly less than a tablespoon worth of filling into each dough circle. Brush the edges of the dough with egg white and fold one side over top of the other and seal. Make sure the seal is tight. Do this until you have used all the filling.
• Bring 4 cups of salted water to boil. Once water is boiling, drop pierogies into the water. They will float to the top when they are ready to be pan fried. Let them take their time.
• In a large skillet melt butter and add onions. Once pierogies are floating transfer them from the water to the skillet. Pan fry about 2 minutes per side. I let mine get pretty brown, but you can opt to cook them for less time. Again, pierogie maker's choice!
• Once done, remove pierogies from skillet. Serve with chopped onion and sour cream.

POTATO-CHEESE PIEROGIES WITH BACON

Steps:

• Place the bacon in a small saucepan over medium-low heat to render slowly, stirring occasionally. When the bacon is cooked and browned but not yet crisp, turn off the heat; let the bacon sit in its fat.
• Place the potatoes in a large saucepan, and add cold water to cover and 1 tablespoon salt. Bring them to boil over high heat, then lower heat to a simmer for 25 minutes, or until the potatoes break apart easily but are not falling apart. Drain the potatoes, and place them back in the pot. Add the cheese, and mash with a potato masher until smooth. Taste, and season with salt if necessary.
• While the potatoes cook, beat the egg and 1 1/2 tablespoons salt together with a fork in a large mixing bowl. Let rest for a few minutes, then beat in the milk. Add the flour in thirds, stirring well, until you have a sticky, shaggy dough.
• Flour your board with 1/2 cup flour, spread it in an 18-inch circle and turn the dough out into the flour. Lightly knead the dough, rolling it in flour as necessary, until it is mostly smooth (a little lumpiness is O.K.) and well floured, about 5 minutes. Pat it into a 1-inch-thick disc, cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out 1/8-inch-thick. (If you like a more delicate wrapper, roll it a little thinner.) Punch out wrappers with a 2 1/2-inch-round cookie cutter.
• Hold a wrapper in one hand, and place 1 to 1 1/4 tablespoons potato filling in it, pressing on the filling slightly to spread it nearly to the edge of the wrapper. Bring the edges of the wrapper up, as if folding a taco, and pinch one end closed. Stabilize the pierogi on the outstretched fingers of one hand. Use your other hand to pinch around the pierogi's top to seal the dumpling into a half moon, pinching the wrapper snugly against the filling to prevent any air pockets from forming. Use the thumb of the stabilizing hand to block the filling from squishing out as you pinch. (If you have air pockets, they may cause the pierogi to explode while boiling.) Place finished pierogies on a lightly floured surface. Any leftover dough may be reserved for another use in the refrigerator, or cut and boiled as rustic noodles.
• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Gently reheat the bacon. Carefully add the pierogies to the water, and cook until they all float, then cook 1 minute more. Drain, and serve garnished with bacon and slicked with bacon fat.

POTATO AND GOAT CHEESE PIEROGI WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• To make the dough: Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in the bowl of a heavy-duty standing electric mixer (or in a large bowl). Whisk the sour cream, water, eggs, and oil together in a small bowl, then pour into the flour mixture. Using the paddle attachment, mix on low speed (or stir with a wooden spoon), adding more water if the dough is too dry, to make a soft dough. Change to the dough hook and mix on medium-low speed until the dough is smooth and supple, 6 to 8 minutes. (Or turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 8 to 10 minutes.) Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and add enough cold salted water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain well. Press the potatoes through a potato ricer (or rub them through a coarse wire sieve) into a medium bowl and let them cool.
• Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, about 3 minutes. Stir the onion into the potatoes, along with the goat cheese and chives. Stir in the cream and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To assemble the pierogi: Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Working with one half of the dough at a time, roll it out on a lightly floured work surface until about 1/8 inch thick. Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out rounds of the dough, reserving the trimmings.
• Spoon about 1 teaspoon filling on the bottom half of each round. Brush the edge of each round with beaten egg, fold in half to enclose the filling, and seal closed with a fork. Transfer to the baking sheet. Knead the dough scraps together until smooth and let rest for about 10 minutes. Then repeat with the remaining dough and filling. (The pierogi can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 8 hours.)
• To caramelize the onion: Melt the butter and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender and caramelized, about 25 minutes. Stir in the thyme and season to taste with the salt and pepper. Let cool. Coarsely chop the onions and transfer to a small bowl. (The onions can be covered and refrigerated for up to 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• To make the truffle creme fraiche: Mix the creme fraiche and truffle oil in a small bowl. (The creme fraiche can be covered and refrigerated for up to 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Line another large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels.
• To cook the pierogi: Heat the oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium heat. In batches, without crowding, add the pierogi, flat sides down, and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pierogi to the baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while cooking the remaining pierogi, adding more oil to the skillet as needed.
• Arrange the pierogi on a platter. Top each with a dab of the caramelized onions and sprinkle with the chives, if using. Serve immediately, with the truffle creme fraiche.

HOMEMADE POTATO AND CHEESE PIEROGIES / OLD FASHIONED PEROGIES

Steps:

• Potato and Cheese Filling: Cook the onion in butter until tender.
• Combine it with potatoes and cheese.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Vary the proportions and ingredients in this recipe to suit your taste.
• 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 perogies, is that they can be made in large quantities, refrigerated, frozen and reheated without loss of quality.
• Many prefer reheated perogies 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.

PIEROGI DOUGH FOR POTATO AND GOAT CHEESE PIEROGI

Steps:

• Place unpeeled potato in a large saucepan, and cover by 2 inches with cold water. Add 1 tablespoon salt, and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium, and cook until tender, about 40 minutes. Drain, and peel while still hot, holding the potato with a clean kitchen towel. Pass the potato through a food mill fitted with the finest disk or a potato ricer into a large bowl.
• Sift flour, potato starch or cornstarch, and remaining salt into the bowl with the potato, and combine with a wooden spoon. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, creme fraiche or sour cream, and butter, and add to the potato mixture. Mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead for 5 minutes, until smooth and firm. Let rest, covered, for about 10 minutes. Lightly flour a clean work surface, and roll out the dough to slightly thinner than 1/8 inch. Use a 3 1/2-inch-diameter cookie cutter to cut out circles; set them aside on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and cover them with plastic wrap while preparing the filling.