Polish Pierogi Sauerkraut Meat Filling Recipes

MEAT PIEROGI

Steps:

• Wash and dry meat. Sprinkle lightly with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cook in the 350 degree oven until cooked through. Take out, set aside to cool (preserved juices from cooking).
• In the mean time, chop the onion and sauté in butter.
• Once meat cools, cube and put through a meat grinder with the attachment with the smallest holes.
• To ground up meat, add juices from roasting (about 2 cups, if not enough juices were produced, add water or broth), sautéed onion, melted butter (1/2 stick), salt, pepper, marjoram and minced garlic.
• Mix well. Taste. Add salt, if needed. Set aside.
• To make dough, combine all ingredients (I do about half of this recipe at a time, as that's as much my mixer holds). Put a large pot full of salted water on for a boil. Add a splash of oil, to prevent sticking.
• In batches, roll out dough to about 1/8 of an inch thickness. With a glass, cut out circles. Fill each circle with about a 1.5 tsp of filling (or more if you'd like), close each pieróg and press edges with a fork to seal (see video below).
• Drop into boiling water, turn heat down to low and with a spoon lightly stir off the bottom, to prevent sticking. Water should only be slightly simmering (not rolling boil). When all pierogi float to the top, they are done. Remove from pot and place on a large surface to cool (without touching), or serve topped with sautéed onion.
• This recipe makes about a 100 pierogi. They freeze well. Place in a dish in layers, separated with parchment paper. Once frozen, place in a plastic bag. To thaw, place in a sautéing pan with about 1/4 cup of water, and a couple tablespoons of butter, cover and cook for a few minutes, until water evaporates. Uncover and sauté until golden brown.

POLISH PIEROGI (SAUERKRAUT & MEAT FILLING)

Steps:

• Fry meat to desired doneness and set aside.
• Mix remaining filling ingredients and fry for about five minutes.
• Combine mixture with meat and refrigerate until ready to assemble pierogi.
• Combine the ingredients listed under dough and knead until well blended (dough should be somewhat dry and about the consistency of play-doh, you can knead in more flour if needed).
• Twist off workable portions of dough and roll out very thin on a floured surface.
• Using a glass with a thin lip and a diameter of about 3.
• 5 inches, dip lip of glass in flour and cut circles out of the dough.
• Place about 2 tsp filling in the center of each dough circle.
• Moisten outer edges with water and fold dough over to close.
• Seal edges by pressing gently with the back of a fork or pinching together with your fingers.
• Cook 12 pierogi at a time, reducing heat to a gentle boil; boil, stirring occasionally to keep from sticking to the bottom, until pierogi float to the surface (about 5 minutes).
• Rinse in cold water, then drizzle melted butter or vegetable oil over dough to keep from sticking.
• Repeat with remaining pierogi.
• At this point you can serve them warm, freeze them for later use, deep fry them until golden brown or pan fry them in butter with onions over medium heat, lightly browning both sides before serving.

POLISH SAUERKRAUT PIEROGI

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium. Add onion and cook until tender but not browned. Add sauerkraut and carrots. Cook, stirring often, 10 to 15 minutes or until volume has reduced and sauerkraut is tender.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons sour cream. If the mixture doesn't hold its shape when squeezed together, add more sour cream.
• Let this filling cool completely before filling pierogi dough. If desired, store covered in the refrigerator for one day before using.
• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, combine eggs, 5 tablespoons sour cream, 3 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and chicken broth until well mixed.
• Add flour and knead by hand or in a stand mixer until the dough is smooth. Wrap with plastic and let rest at least 10 minutes before rolling.
• Remove the sauerkraut filling from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
• Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut the dough. Gather scraps, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.
• Using a 1 1/2-inch cookie scoop, portion sauerkraut filling onto all the dough circles before folding.
• With clean, dry hands, fold dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Press the edges together, sealing and crimping with your fingers (or use a fork) as for a pie.
• Roll, cut, and fill the reserved scraps of dough.
• Bring a deep pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Reduce to a simmer and drop 12 pierogi at a time into the water. Stir once so they don't stick to the bottom. When they rise to the surface, cook 3 minutes or until dough is done to your liking (based on the thickness of the dough).
• Remove with a slotted spoon to a platter that has been smeared with butter. Pierogi will stick together if drained in a colander, even if the colander has been coated with cooking spray.
• Repeat until all pierogi are cooked. Serve as is with melted butter or fry in butter.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Add butter and 1 cup chopped onion to a heavy, large skillet and sauté until onion is translucent. Add pierogi and fry until golden on both sides and onion is tender.
• Serve hot with onion, sour cream, and bacon bits if desired.

SAUERKRAUT FILLING (PIEROGI FILLING)

Steps:

• Heat oil in skillet; add onion and mushrooms(optional). Cook till vegetables are tender, but not brown. Stir in sauerkraut, salt and pepper; cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream. Cool slightly.