At one point or another, everyone in my family has savored these tasty treats! Everyone from my Irish husband, to charming son-in-law from Vermont! When she was younger, my daughter even enjoyed teaching her cousin and my sister-in-law how to make pierogi at a sleep-over one night! As toddlers, my daughters would ask for "more oggies!" Now even 'Lil Moomette, my granddaughter enjoys "oggies."
Polish Pierogi Filling
There's many types of Polish Pierogi filling - they can be made with a fruit filling such as prunes, cottage cheese or sweet cheese (as you'd find in a blintz.)
New Britain, Connecticut has an abundance of authentic, traditional Polish restaurants and specialty food stores, and has been featured on the Food Network. If you're ever in the area, it's a good opportunity to enjoy the many different types of Polish food!
From Wikipedia:
New Britain has the largest Polish population of any city in Connecticut, and by 1930 a quarter of the city was ethnically Polish.[6] Also referred to as "Little Poland", the neighborhood has been home to a considerable number of Polish businesses and families since 1890. On September 23, 2008, through the urging of the Polonia Business Association, the New Britain City Council unanimously passed a resolution officially designating New Britain's Broad Street area as "Little Poland."
Because of its large Polish population, the city is playfully referred to as "New Britski".
Polish Pierogi filling requires a bit of time to make. Of course the old saying is "Many hands make light work" so it isn't unusual that making Christmas Polish Pirogi becomes a family affair where a whole day is devoted to the event! I posted an easy recipe for Pierogi dough that is a family favorite.
If you like the sauerkraut filling, check that out too!
Here's my favorite recipe for Easy Potato and Farmer's Cheese Polish Pierogi Filling that I inherited from my mom and aunts.
Next, I'll show you how to make a Potato-Sauerkraut filling for Pierogi. Be sure to follow my Facebook updates so you won't miss it!
I like to make pierogi ahead to freeze in my Food Saver vacuum sealer machine to save time and money.
1 tbl grated or finely chopped onion
2 tbs butter
1 cup or less cold mashed potatoes
2 cups Andrulis Farmer's cheese
2 to 3 egg yolks
salt and pepper, to taste
Cook onion in butter.
Mix onion with potatoes, farmers cheese, eggs, salt and pepper. Blend well.
Place cheese filling on half of circle of dough.
Fold over making half circles and press open edges with floured fork or fingers. Make sure pierogi are well sealed.
Set aside until all dough and filling is used.
Boil 3 qts. water in a large stock pot with 1 Tbl salt.
While water is boiling gently drop or slide pierogi a few at a time. Do not crowd. Stir gently with wooden spoon to separate and to keep from sticking to each other.
Boil rapidly for 3 to 5 minutes.
Easy Potato and Farmer's Cheese Polish Pierogi Filling
1 tbl grated or finely chopped onion
2 tbs butter
1 cup or less cold mashed potatoes
2 cups Andrulis Farmer's cheese
2 to 3 egg yolks
salt and pepper, to taste
Cook onion in butter.
Mix onion with potatoes, farmers cheese, eggs, salt and pepper. Blend well.
Place cheese filling on half of circle of dough.
Fold over making half circles and press open edges with floured fork or fingers. Make sure pierogi are well sealed.
Set aside until all dough and filling is used.
Boil 3 qts. water in a large stock pot with 1 Tbl salt.
While water is boiling gently drop or slide pierogi a few at a time. Do not crowd. Stir gently with wooden spoon to separate and to keep from sticking to each other.
Boil rapidly for 3 to 5 minutes.