Ukrainian Best Potato Perogies Varenyky In Brown Butter Food

UKRAINIAN BEST POTATO PEROGIES-VARENYKY IN BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• FOR THE FILLING, cook potatoes in boiling salted water until tender, and drain. If you have a ricer, rice potatoes and stir in butter while hot, otherwise mash with electric beaters. Season to taste and add nutmeg. If adding cheese, allow potatoes to cool, then stir in grated cheese. Chill potato filling before using.
• FOR THE DOUGH, combine flour and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk and water. Add liquid to flour and stir until blended. The dough should be soft enough that it sticks to the bottom of the bowl, but not so soft that it doesn't hold its shape. You can always add a little more liquid or flour if you need to. Cover dough and let rest 1 hour.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough as thinly as possible without tearing. Use a round cutter 3 inches in diameter and cut out circles of dough. Place 1 tablespoons of potato filling into the center of each perogy and pinch the perogy edges closed. Perogies can be frozen in one layer on a baking sheet or kept chilled until ready to cook.
• To serve, melt butter in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Add onions, stirring constantly until onions are richly browned. Reduce heat to medium low.
• TO BOIL VARENYKY: In a pot of boiling salted water, cook about half of the perogies until they float, about 5 minutes. Remove from water with a slotted spoon, add to browned butter and gently stir with rubber spatula or wooden spoon to coat them, cook remaining perogies and stir gently into browned butter. Makes 24 to 30 perogies.

VARENIKI- UKRANIAN PIEROGIES

Steps:

• In a food processor, blend the flour and the salt. With the motor running, add the egg and the oil, and then pour the water in a slow, steady stream until the dough forms a ball around the blade. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 2 minutes, until smooth. Cover with a kitchen towel and let stand for 30 minutes. Divide the dough into 2 balls. On a floured surface, with a floured rolling pin, roll out one of the balls very thinly, to about 1/16th of an inch, making sure that it doesn't tear. With a cookie cutter, or a cup, cut out circles about 3 inches in diameter. Place a heaping teaspoon of the desired filling in the middle of a circle. Fold the dough over to form a semi-circle. Brush the edges with the egg and press firmly with the tines of the fork to seal. Place the vareniki as they are made on a large, lightly floured, platter, and cover with a damp cloth, while making the next batch. Repeat with the second ball of dough. Bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to moderate and carefully lower half of the vareniki into the water. Boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until they rise to the surface, about 6 to 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, carefully remove the vareniki into a colander and drain thoroughly. Transfer into a deep serving bowl and toss with half of the butter.
• In a small skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and saute the onion until deeply colored, about 10 minutes. In a mixing bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients. Add the Sauteed onion along with the cooking fat and mix well. Fill the vareniki and cook as directed.
• In a large skillet, saute the bacon over medium heat until it renders its fat. Remove the bacon and drain all but 2 tablespoons of fat. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until nicely browned. Turn the heat up to medium-high, add the sauerkraut and saute, stirring until limp and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the sugar and broth. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature before filling. Use the reserved bacon for topping.;
• Combine all the filling ingredients and mix thoroughly. Fill and cook as directed. This filling can be either sweet or savory, so add salt or sugar, accordingly. Serve with sour cream and confectioners' sugar, if sweet.

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 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.

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.