Sauerkraut Filling For Pierogi Recipes

HOMEMADE SAUERKRAUT PIEROGIES / PEROGIES - OLD FASHIONED RECIPE

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.

SAUERKRAUT FILLING FOR PIEROGI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat oil over a medium flame. Add onions and mushrooms, and cook until tender but not brown. Stir in sauerkraut, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 6 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in 2 tablespoons sour cream.

PIEROGI I

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat together eggs, carton sour cream, and salt. Stir in flour and warm water. Add water until dough feels like velvet. Turn out onto a lightly floured board, and knead until smooth. Roll out to a 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out 3 1/2 inch circles with either the top of a glass or a biscuit cutter. Cover with waxed paper to prevent drying out if not filling immediately.
• Place 1 or 2 tablespoons filling on one side of a circle of dough. Fold over, and seal by pressing the edges with a fork. Repeat until ingredients are used.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Immerse pierogi. Cook until the dumplings float to the surface. (See Cook's Note for tips on freezing extra pierogies.)

POLISH SAUERKRAUT PIEROGI

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add onion and cook until tender but not browned. Add sauerkraut and carrots. Cook, stirring often, 10 to 15 minutes or until volume has reduced and sauerkraut is tender.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons sour cream. If the mixture doesn't hold its shape when squeezed together, add more sour cream.
• Let this filling cool completely before filling pierogi dough. If desired, store covered in the refrigerator for one day before using.
• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, combine eggs, 5 tablespoons sour cream, 3 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and chicken broth until well mixed.
• Add flour and knead by hand or in a stand mixer until the dough is smooth. Wrap with plastic and let rest at least 10 minutes before rolling.
• Remove the sauerkraut filling from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
• Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut the dough. Gather scraps, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.
• Using a 1 1/2-inch cookie scoop, portion sauerkraut filling onto all the dough circles before folding.
• With clean, dry hands, fold dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Press the edges together, sealing and crimping with your fingers (or use a fork) as for a pie.
• Roll, cut, and fill the reserved scraps of dough.
• Bring a deep pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Reduce to a simmer and drop 12 pierogi at a time into the water. Stir once so they don't stick to the bottom. When they rise to the surface, cook 3 minutes or until dough is done to your liking (based on the thickness of the dough).
• Remove with a slotted spoon to a platter that has been smeared with butter. Pierogi will stick together if drained in a colander, even if the colander has been coated with cooking spray.
• Repeat until all pierogi are cooked. Serve as is with melted butter or fry in butter.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Add butter and 1 cup chopped onion to a heavy, large skillet and sauté until onion is translucent. Add pierogi and fry until golden on both sides and onion is tender.
• Serve hot with onion, sour cream, and bacon bits if desired.

SAUERKRAUT FILLING (PIEROGI FILLING)

Steps:

• Heat oil in skillet; add onion and mushrooms(optional). Cook till vegetables are tender, but not brown. Stir in sauerkraut, salt and pepper; cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream. Cool slightly.