Crunchy Pierogi Pie Food

PIEROGIES WITH POTATO AND CHEESE FILLING

Steps:

• Mix flour, water, and egg and salt together. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Cover dough with bowl and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Boil potatoes until soft. Drain and rinse. Add cheese. Let stand a few minutes until cheese melts. Then fold potatoes and cheese together.
• Roll out dough about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 3-inch squares. Fill each square of dough with one teaspoon of potato and cheese filling. Fold in half and pinch ends together to seal. Drop in hot boiling water and simmer for 8 minutes. Drain and fry in butter a few minutes until heated through. Chopped onions may be added to the butter, if desired. Salt and pepper, to taste.

SUNNY'S PIEROGI PIZZA

Steps:

• In a slow cooker on low, add the onions, 2 tablespoons oil and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring every hour or so, until deep golden brown, 8 to 10 hours. Cook uncovered for the last hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Roll the dough out to fit an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet or a large round pizza pan. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over the top and pierce the dough with a fork all over to minimize bubbles. Bake the dough, checking every few minutes to ensure it doesn't burn, until lightly golden in the center, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside. (Leave the oven on.)
• In a medium bowl combine the Monterey Jack and Parmesan. Add half of the cheese mixture to the mashed potatoes.
• Top the dough in an even layer with the mashed potato mixture. Add the caramelized onions, bacon, chile flakes and the remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the edges of the crust are golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Top with a drizzle of the yogurt and sprinkle with the chives.

PIEROGI

Steps:

• First, make the crispy shallots. Heat the oil in a saucepan to 180C (a cube of bread will turn golden in 15 secs). Toss the shallots in a little flour and deep-fry for 1 min or until light golden and crispy. Drain on kitchen paper. Can be made up to two days before and kept in an airtight container.
• To make the filling, heat the oil in a medium non-stick frying pan and gently fry the shallots for 10 mins until starting to turn golden.
• Add the sauerkraut and cabbage, and cook for 5-10 mins until the cabbage has softened. Taste and add a little salt if under-seasoned, or sugar if stringent. Scrape into a bowl and leave to cool completely.
• To make the dough, mix the eggs and oil with 125ml water, then gradually add in the flour, mixing well with your hands. Knead it on a well-floured surface until the dough stops sticking to your hands. You should end up with firm, elastic dough. Wrap it in cling film and rest in the fridge for at least 30 mins, or overnight.
• Flour your work surface generously. Roll out the dough to a 40cm circle or until the dough is as thick as £1 coin.
• Using a 9cm cookie cutter, cut out discs in the dough - you should end up with about 25 discs. Do not throw away the off-cuts - we throw them in with the pierogi when boiling to minimise any waste.
• Have a well-floured tray ready. Put 1 tsp of the filling into the centre of each disc. In your hand, fold in half around the filling and seal to create half-moon shapes. Put them on the floured tray, making sure they don't touch each other.
• Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and carefully lower the pierogi in. Boil them for 2 mins or until they float to the top.
• Drain and serve with a knob of butter and some soured cream. Finish by sprinkling the crispy shallots on top to serve.

CRUNCHY PIEROGI PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (For glass pans 400 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Cook pierogies for 3 to 4 minutes or until they float.
• Drain well.
• Place in a greased 8 inch pie plate.
• Drizzle the butter evenly over the pierogies.
• Sprinkle with the grated cheese.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until edges and cheese are brown and crispy.