Ukrainian Blueberry Varenyky W Blueberry Sauce Perogypierogi Recipes

UKRAINIAN BLUEBERRY DUMPLINGS (VARENYKY)

Steps:

• Gather the dough ingredients.
• In a large bowl, mix together flour and salt. Add the egg and enough water to make a medium-soft dough.
• Knead in a stand mixer or by hand until smooth. But don't overwork the dough because it will become tough.
• Halve the dough and cover with plastic wrap and let rest for at least 30 minutes.
• Gather the filling ingredients.
• In a medium saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, optional liquor or lemon juice and cinnamon and cook over low heat until blueberries come to a boil.
• Reduce heat, simmer 2 minutes and remove from heat. Set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll one dough half 1/8-inch thick. Using a 3-inch round cutter or a glass, cut out circles of dough. Remove scraps.
• Place a circle in the palm of your hand and, using a slotted spoon, place 3 or 4 blueberries on each round (leaving the sauce in the pan).
• Fold the dough over to form a half-circle and press the edges together until well sealed and there is no air trapped in the dumpling, and the edges are free of filling.
• Alternatively, the dough can be cut into 2 1/2-inch squares, filled and folded into triangles.
• Place filled dumplings on a lightly floured surface and cover with a tea towel to prevent drying. Re-roll scraps and continue with remaining dough.
• Drop 6 varenyky at a time into boiling, salted water. Stir gently to separate and prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Boil rapidly for 3 to 4 minutes. Cooking time will depend on the size of the varenyky and thickness of the dough.
• Varenyky are done when well puffed. Remove from water with a slotted spoon or skimmer and drain well in a colander.
• Place in a shallow dish and coat generously with melted butter, tossing to prevent sticking. Cover and keep hot until all the varenyky are boiled.
• Gather the remaining ingredients.
• Make the blueberry sauce by adding cornstarch to the blueberry liquid left in the saucepan and heat over low until slightly thickened.
• Dust cooked varenyky with confectioners' sugar and serve with a dollop of sour cream. Drizzle blueberry sauce on the varenyky or pass in a small pitcher at the table.

UKRAINIAN OLHA'S VARENYKY (PEROGIES)

Steps:

• To make the dough, combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add the soft butter and evaporated milk; stir gently until all the liquid is absorbed. Add water only as needed, kneading continuously until dough sticks together. Place dough into a greased bowl, turn to coat, and let rest for 30 minutes.
• To make the potato filling, place potatoes into a saucepan with water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside. Melt 1/2 cup butter in a medium skillet, over medium heat. Saute onions in butter until tender. Mix the onions into the potatoes along with the cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• To make the sauerkraut and cabbage filling, pour the drained sauerkraut into a large saucepan. In a medium skillet, saute 2 onions in 1/2 cup butter until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir the onions into the sauerkraut along with the cabbage and chicken bouillon cube. Cook over low heat until liquid evaporates. Season with pepper and remove from heat. Allow the mixture to cool, then run through a grinder or food processor.
• Remove the dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out to 1/8 inch in thickness. Cut into 3 inch circles. Place one tablespoon of filling onto one side of the circle. Fold the other half over and press the edges to seal. Place finished dumplings onto a floured tray and keep covered.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop 10 or so dumplings into the water at a time. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove to a colander to drain. Place finished dumplings onto a lightly oiled dish and turn them to coat with a thin layer. This will keep them from sticking together. Serve dumplings with fried onions and sour cream. Cooled dumplings also can be fried in oil and butter for a nice crispy surface.

UKRAINIAN PEROGIES, FOR BEGINNERS

Steps:

• Dough--------------.
• Mix dough ingredients together.
• You may have to add more liquid or flour to make the dough soft and somewhat sticky.
• Turn onto a floured surface and knead more flour into dough- just enough to make it easier to handle.
• The dough will be slightly sticky.
• Do not over-knead.
• Place dough in an oiled bowl.
• Cover and let rest for 30 minuets.
• Filling-----------.
• Cook onion in butter.
• Mix with potatoes, and add cheese while the mixture is still hot.
• You may substitute Cheez Whiz for the cheddar.
• Let filling cool before using (place in fridge.) If you are using the alternate filling, simply mix those ingredients together.
• Manufacturing--------.
• Set a large pot of water to boil.
• Form walnut-sized balls of the filling.
• Roll out dough on floured surface fairly thinly (3 millimeters, or 0.125 inch).
• You will probably need to add flour as you roll.
• Cut out circles approximately 7 1/2 centimeters (3 inches) in diameter (a wider-mouthed glass should do fine.) Press scraps into a ball.
• Place filling ball in center of dough circle.
• If the dough has a less-floury side, keep that side up.
• Fold dough over ball, and pinch edges to form a half circle.
• To prevent perogies with"horns", I pinch at the top ("90 degree mark") of the perogy first, then pinch at the 180 and degree edges, working up to the 90 degree mark.
• You can cheat pinching the perogies by smearing water on the filling side of the dough at the edges, and keep your fingers floured when you pinch (on the non-filling side.) In order to prevent perogies from drying out, keep finished perogies on a floured surface, and cover with a floured clean dishcloth.
• Place several perogies in boiling water.
• Stir once, gently with a slotted spoon.
• Perogies are done when they float for a minute (this will take 2-3 minutes).
• Melt about 1/2 cup of butter or margarine in microwave.
• Rescue and drain the perogies with the slotted spoon.
• Place in a bowl, drizzle with some melted butter, and gently shake to distribute the butter.
• Cook, drain, and drizzle the other perogies in the same manner.
• *Platzkies (pronounced "plutch-keys"): (The scrap dough is not tender enough to make into perogies, but make good"dumplings" by themselves.) Roll out scraps to approxamitely the same thickness as before.
• Add minimal flour, and handle dough as little as possible.
• Try to keep edges even.
• Cut dough with a knife into strips about 8 cm (3 inches) wide.
• Cut each strip into several triangles and/or squares.
• Cook strips in water until they float.
• Repeat draining and drizzling treatment as with perogies.

UKRAINIAN BLUEBERRY VARENYKY W. BLUEBERRY SAUCE (PEROGY/PIEROGI)

Steps:

• FOR THE SAUCE: In saucepan, stir together blueberries, sugar and flour; add lemon juice and 1/4 cup water. Simmer over low heat until blueberries are soft and sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• FOR THE DOUGH: In large bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder. In separate bowl, whisk together egg, milk and butter; stir into flour mixture. Add cold water, 1 tablespoons at a time (6 to 7 tablespoons total), until soft dough is formed. Knead until dough is smooth. Cover with plastic and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Roll dough to scant 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out 3 inch rounds.
• FILLING: Whisk together sugar and flour; set aside. Stretch out cut out dough rounds slightly and fill each round with scant 1 teaspoons flour/ sugar mixture and 1 tablespoons blueberries. Pull dough over filling; pinch edges together to seal.
• Continue until dough and filling are used up, letting reworked scraps rest slightly before rolling (keep unrolled dough and filled dumplings covered with a clean tea towel).
• In large pot of lightly salted boiled water, boil dumpling, in batches if necessary, until dough is tender at thickest edges, about 10 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon to serving plate; drizzle with butter to prevent sticking. Serve with blueberry sauce and sour cream on the side. Makes 32 to 36 dumplings.
• FOOD TIP: any leftover dough can be rolled into noodles, boiled and served with butter or sour cream.

UKRAINIAN VARENYKY PYROHY PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Potato Filling.
• Cook the onion in 2 Tbsp butter until tender.
• Add onions and cheese to hot cooked potatoes and mash thoroughly.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside and let cool to room temperature before using.
• Dough.
• Mix 2 cups flour and salt in a deep bowl.
• Add egg, mashed potatoes, 1 Tbsp melted butter and enough water to make medium soft dough.
• Knead on floured board until smooth.
• Divide dough into two parts - Cover and let stand for at least ten minutes.
• Roll dough thin on floured board.
• Cut dough into 2-1/2 inch squares.
• Place a spoonful of filling on each square - fold over to form triangle.
• Press edges together with fingers.
• Place pyrohy on floured board and cover with tea towel to prevent drying.
• Drop a few pyrohy at a time into large quantity of rapidly boiling salted water - do not cook too many at a time.
• Stir gently with wooden spoon to separate and prevent from sticking to bottom of pot.
• Continue to cook for 3 - 4 minutes. Pyrohy is ready when it begins to float or is well puffed.
• Remove with perforated spoon to colander and drain thoroughly.
• Place in deep dish, sprinkle and toss generously with melted butter and lightly browned onions in butter.
• Serve with sour cream and/or chopped crisp bacon. Enjoy!
• Perogies can be frozen once cooked and cooled. To eat, defrost and pan fry in butter till browned on either side.

UKRAINIAN ZENIA'S POTATO VARENYKY (PEROGIES, PYROHY)

Steps:

• PREPARE THE FILLING FIRST: Saute the onion in the butter until softened, about 6 minutes.
• Combine with the potatoes and cheese and mix well.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Let cool thoroughly before using.
• (The filling can be made a day ahead and kept covered and refrigerated.
• Bring to room temperature before using.).
• TO MAKE THE DOUGH: Combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl.
• Add the egg yolks, mashed potatoes, melted butter and just enough of the water to form a medium-soft dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. (Too much kneading will make the dough tough.).
• Divide the dough in half and cover with an inverted bowl.
• Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Roll out the dough until it is quite thin and cut rounds about 2 to 3 inches wide with a large biscuit cutter.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a little salt.
• To each round of dough, add a spoonful of filling ad fold over to form a half circle.
• Press the edges together with well floured fingers, making sure the varenyky are well sealed.
• Transfer them to a lightly floured surface and cover them with a clean tea towel so that they do not dry out.
• Drop a few at a time into the boiling water, stirring gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Boil for 3 to 4 minutes, at which point they should be puffed and bobbing on the surface.
• (The thinner the dough and the smaller the pyrohy, the quicker they will cook.).
• Transfer with a slotted spoon to a colander, drain thoroughly and place in a warmed bowl.
• Drizzle with melted butter and toss gently to keep them from sticking together.
• Cover and keep warm while you cook the remaining varenyky.
• Serve with fried onions and sour cream. Serve hot. Makes 4 serving.
• Great Potatoes.

BABCHA'S MEAT-FILLED VARENYKY (PEROGIES)

Steps:

• Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain in a sieve or colander and rinse off excess fat with hot water.
• Mash potatoes with milk in a bowl until smooth; stir in onion, garlic, 1 pinch salt, and pepper. Mix ground beef into potato mixture until filling is evenly combined.
• Whisk flour and 4 teaspoons salt together in a deep bowl; stir in 1 cup water and eggs until dough is soft. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Divide dough into 4 equal parts and arrange on a baking sheet; cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Roll each piece of dough on a floured work surface until thin; cut into rounds using the rim of a large-mouth cup or large cookie cutter.
• Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons filling onto each round. Fold dough over filling creating a 1/2 circle; press edges together, sealing with a dash of water if needed. Arrange varenyky in a single layer on plates and cover with a clean towel.
• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook 2 to 3 varenyky at a time in boiling water until cooked through and dough is puffed, about 4 minutes. Remove varenyky with a slotted spoon and repeat with remaining varenyky.

UKRAINIAN VARENYKY WITH ONION BUTTER (PEROGIES)

Steps:

• DOUGH: Combine flour, baking powder add salt in food processor.
• Process for 3 seconds.
• With motor running, slowly add cooking oil and enough warm water through feed chute until a ball begins to form.
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface.
• Knead 3 to 4 times until smooth.
• Cover with plastic wrap.
• Let stand for 20 minutes.
• ONION BUTTER: Saute onion in butter in small saucepan on medium-low for about 10 minutes until onion is soft but not brown.
• Keep hot.
• TWO CHEESE POTATO FILLING: Mix first 4 ingredients in medium bowl until Cheddar cheese melts and mixture is evenly moist.
• Makes about 2 1/4 cups filling.
• Divide dough into 4 equal portions.
• Roll out 1 portion into a rope about 12 inches long.
• Keep other portions covered.
• Cut at 1 inch intervals.
• Press balls slightly to flatten.
• Cover with plastic wrap.
• Stretch and press 1 ball to about 2 1/2 inches in diameter or roll out with rolling pin.
• Place in palm of hand.
• Place about 2 teaspoons filling centre.
• I like to make the potato filling a day ahead so that it is cold.
• Fold dough in half.
• With well floured fingers, pinch edges firmly together to seal.
• Edges of dough may be moistened if desired.
• Arrange in single layer on lightly floured tea towel-lined baking sheet.
• Cover with tea towel to prevent drying.
• Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
• Cook varenyky, in batches, in boiling water and salt in large pot or Dutch oven for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until varenyky float to top.
• Allow to bob for 1 minute.
• Remove using slotted spoon.
• Drain.
• Turn into large bowl.
• Drizzle some Onion Butter over each varenyky batch.
• Gently shake to mix and prevent sticking.
• Makes 4 dozen varenyky.
• VARIATION: Add 6 bacon slices, cooked crisp and crumbled, to Two Cheese Potato Filling.
• VARIATION: After varenyky are cooked, sauté, in batches, in 2 teaspoons butter in frying pan until lightly browned.
• TO MAKE AHEAD: Place filled varenyky (cooked or uncooked) on baking sheet, in layers between waxed paper or parchment paper.
• Cover.
• Freeze until solid.
• To remove varenyky, hit baking sheet on counter to pop them off.
• Store in resealable freezer bags in freezer.
• To cook from frozen, do not thaw.
• Boil, as above, increasing cooking time after they float to top.
• Serve with sour cream.