Latvian Piragi Recipes

PIRAGI - LATVIAN BACON BUNS

Steps:

• In a heavy non stick pan sauté onions and bacon until the onions are translucent and most of the bacon fat has rendered.
• Add ground pepper to taste.
• Leave this mixture to cool completely while you are making the dough. I usually make the bacon/onion mix the day before and leave it in my fridge until I am ready to use it. The bacon mixture is easier to work with when cold.
• Place yeast and water in a small bowl, put aside for the yeast to activate. It will froth up.
• In a small saucepan add butter, milk and sugar. Warm over a low heat until butter has melted and sugar has dissolved into the milk.
• When milk mixture has cooled to lukewarm stir through beaten egg, yeast and water.
• Place two cups of the plain flour and salt in a large bowl, pour liquid over and stir to combine.
• Once combined add the remaining flour. Mix until all ingredients have come together, then leave to rest in the bowl for 10 minutes.
• Once rested turn dough out on to a lightly floured surface and knead until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 - 10 minutes.
• Place dough back in to a lightly oiled bowl and cover. Leave dough to raise, around 1½ hours or until doubled in size.
• Preheat oven 180 deg C (360 deg F)
• Once dough is ready, start pulling off a walnut size pieces of dough. Work them in to a ball in your hand then tease them out to a circle. Place a tablespoon of the bacon mixture, and bring the edges of the dough together. Seal the bun in a torpedo shape.
• Place formed buns on a baking tray that has been lined with baking paper.
• Mix the beaten egg and water together to make an egg wash. Brush egg wash mixture on buns. Place buns in oven and bake until golden, 12-15 minutes.Repeat with the remainder of the mixture and dough.
• Once out of the oven they are ready to eat.
• Piragi can also be frozen once cooled.

PīRāGI

Steps:

• Mix onions and bacon and season with pepper and salt.

PIRAGI LATVIAN BACON ROLLS

Steps:

• Fry bacon and ham in pan for about five minutes. Drain and cool in fridge.
• Sprinkle yeast over warm water and sugar. let stand 10 minutes.
• Scald milk in a saucepan.
• Add sugar, salt, and butter. Allow mixture to cool until it is lukewarm.
• Add 3 1/2 cups flour, sour cream, egg yolks and yeast.
• Beat with spoon until smooth and shiny.
• Cover bowl and let rest for 1 hour.
• Turn out on floured board and gradually add remaining flour kneading until dough is elastic.
• Let rise another 45 mins Preheat oven to 400.
• Roll out dough until about 1/4 inch thick.
• Cut circles into dough. A small drinking glass is ideal size.
• Spoon 1 tsp of filling on to each circle.
• Fold over. Press and tuck under seam.
• Place rolls on greased cookie sheet and brush with beaten egg.
• Let rise about 20 minutes.
• bake at 400 for 10 mins or until golden brown.