Knishes The Old Fashion Way Recipes

SUPER EASY POTATO KNISHES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400F/204C.
• MAKE POTATO MIXTURE: To fry onions, heat oil on medium heat and sauté onions for 5-6 minutes just until slightly brown. Combine mashed potatoes and caramelized onions in a medium bowl with a fork. Season with salt and pepper - or 2 tablespoons of dry onion soup mix - to taste. You can omit the salt and pepper if you are using leftover mashed potatoes that are already seasoned.
• MAKE KNISHES: You will make two rolls of knishes from each sheet of puff pastry. On a lightly floured surface, unroll one sheet of puff pastry dough. It should be about 1/4 inch/0.63cm thick or less. Stretch out or roll dough a bit if necessary. Spread potato filling to resemble a log - about 2 inches/5cm thick - along one side of the rolled dough. Fold dough over the potato about 1 1/2 times in a jelly-roll fashion, making a log/roll. Cut away remaining dough with a sharp knife for the next roll. Tuck ends and pinch seams together well (to ensure filling doesn't seep out). Repeat with other half of dough on the same sheet of dough. Then do the same with the second sheet of dough. If you have extra dough and potato mixture left over, make a 5th roll.
• BAKE: Place rolls on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, seam side down. Brush egg wash on rolls which will create a glazed golden look (optional). Bake for 25-30 minutes to a golden brown flaky pastry. If any potato mixture seeps out, tuck it back into the knish roll with a knife.
• TO SERVE: Cut rolls of finished knishes into 2 inch/5 cm pieces on the diagonal and serve. To make ahead (recommended!) see Note 2.

CLASSIC POTATO KNISHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove dough from refrigerator and flour the board or marble. Roll out dough to 1/8" thick and brush with oil. Cut out 3-4 inch rounds with a pastry cutter or glass. Place a spoonful of filling (see filling recipes below) onto the center of each round and pinch the edges to make a ball.
• Place each knish, pinched side down onto an ungreased baking sheet. Brush the tops and sides with the beaten egg. Bake for 30-35 degrees until golden brown. Serve hot with deli mustard and enjoy!!

KNISHES THE OLD FASHION WAY

Steps:

• 1. Tip 1: Make the fillings first, even a day or so ahead so they will be all ready to put into the dough. Tip 2: These are even more delicious after frozen at the point before baking. Bake them when they are fresh or while still frozen. Tip 3:Do not thaw them after freezing. Bake them frozen. Tip 4: Anything too good to throw away can be made into a filling. Note: Schmaltz is rendered chicken fat, but olive oil works especially if you add some good dry chicken soup mix to it for extra taste. PASTRY: Sift dry ingredients together. Add rest of ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Dust a bowl with flour lightly. Turn it upside-down to remove excess. Put dough in and covery with damp dish towell, cloth or plastic wrAp. Let stand 15 minutes. Knead in mixer with dough hook JUST UNTIL ELASTIC. Work with 1/4 of the dough at a time keeping remainder covered. Fill one part of dough before rolling out nex part. Roll out (with rolling pin) and stretch dough into rounds about 20 inches in diameter, or as rectangular as possible.Make them as thin as possible. (The thinner the better tasting and the more knishes you can make.) Brush dough with oil, or melted butter or margarine. Put line of filling 1 to 1 1/2 inches from edge (and one inch thick) across width. Roll envelope style twice. Cut away this part from remainder and repeat untl used up. Brush with oil, or butter or margarine. Place seam-side down on liberally oiled (or my preference is to use parchment lined pans). Mash each roll with the palm of the hand to make it slightly flatter on top. Cut slits on top of the log about 1 1/2 inches apart to indicate where to finish slicing (and to make it easier to slice) once the logs are finished baking. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven about 45 minutes, or until golden brown. May turn once during baking, if desired. Serve as an appetizer or as a soup accompaniment or even with a salad as an entree. This pastry dough yields about 60 knishes so make plenty of filli
• 2. Potato: Saute onions in fast or olk until golden. Blend with rest of ingredients. Yield 30
• 3. Beef: Saute onions in choice of fat or oil until golden. Combine all together. Yield 30
• 4. Chicken: Combine all ingredients. Yield 30
• 5. Hot Dog: Just use them as is.

KNISH

Steps:

• For pastry, in a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in sour cream, adding 3-4 tablespoons water to form a dough. Shape into a disk, mixture will be crumbly. Wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight., Place potatoes in a large saucepan; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, until tender, 8-10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook and stir until tender, 8-10 minutes. , Drain potatoes; return to pan and stir over low heat 1 minute to dry. Mash potatoes; stir in onion mixture, salt and pepper. Set aside to cool. Stir in eggs., Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 10x12 -in. rectangle. Cut into 16 squares. Spoon 1 tablespoon potato filling in the middle of each square. Brush the edges with water. Fold each corner toward the center, meeting in the middle. Arrange, seam side down, on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until lightly browned, 15-20 minutes.

BLINTZES

Steps:

• 1. Beat egg with salt and liquid (water or milk) until smooth.
• 2. Add flour gradually until the consistency of heavy cream. You do not need a mixer. A whisk will work as well.
• 3. Add more liquid or flour as necessary. The batter will thicken as it sits.
• 4. Spoon 1/3 cup of batter into a greased, preheated crepe or crepe size fry pan.
• 5. Tilt pan until entire bottom is covered with a thin, even layer.
• 6. When the blintz is browned underneath and dry on top (1 to 4 minutes), turn out onto waxed paper (browned side up).
• 7. Cover with waxed paper and continue to stack blintzes and paper until all of the batter's used.
• 8. Mix filling ingredients.
• 9. Spoon some of the mixture into each blintz.
• 10. Roll up once.
• 11. Fold in ends.
• 12. Continue rolling into a cigar shape (like a Chinese egg roll shape). Chill until ready to cook.
• 13. To cook, heat a large skillet to medium-low and melt 2 teaspoons butter.
• 14. Fry blintzes, turning occasionally.
• 15. Add more butter as necessary.
• 16. Serve with warm applesauce, sour cream (as is the tradition). Can easily increase quantities if you are cooking for a crowd.