Best Pierogies Recipes

PAN-FRIED PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add pierogies. Cook 4-5 minutes or until they float the top, drain.
• In a large NON-STICK fry pan, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add onion and drained pierogies and season to taste with salt and pepper or House Seasoning.
• Cook over high heat until the onion is soft and browned and pierogies are nicely browned. The pasta shell will get a little crunchy - it's delish!
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

HOMEMADE SAUERKRAUT PIEROGIES / PEROGIES - OLD FASHIONED RECIPE

Steps:

• Sauerkraut Filling: Rinse the sauerkraut well in warm water, squeeze dry, and chop very fine.
• Cook the onion in the fat or shortening until tender.
• Add the sauerkraut and cream.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cook over low heat for 15 minutes or until sauerkraut is tender and the flavors blend.
• Do not over cook.
• Chill thoroughly.
• Mix the flour with the salt in a deep bowl.
• Add the egg, oil and water to make a medium soft dough.
• Knead on a floured board until the dough is smooth.
• Caution: Too much kneading will toughen the dough.
• Divide the dough into 2 parts.
• Cover and let stand for at least 10 minutes.
• Prepare the filling.
• The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape.
• Roll the dough quite thin on a floured board.
• Cut rounds with a large biscuit cutter, or as most old-world grandmothers did, with the open end of a glass.
• Put the round in the palm of your hand.
• Place a spoonful of filling in it, fold over to form a half circle and press the edges together with the fingers.
• The edges should be free of filling.
• Be sure the edges are sealed well to prevent the filling from running out.
• Place the pierogi on a floured board or tea towel and then cover with another tea towel to prevent them from drying out.
• COOKING: Drop a few pierogies into a large quantity of rapidly boiling salted water.
• Do not attempt to cook too many at a time.
• Stir VERY gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Continue boiling for 3-4 minutes.
• The cooling period will depend upon the size you made it, the thickness of the dough and the filling.
• Pierogies will be ready when they are puffed.
• Remove them with a perforated spoon or skimmer to a colander and drain thoroughly.
• Place in a deep dish, sprinkle generously with melted butter to prevent them from sticking.
• Cover and keep them hot until all are cooked.
• Serve in a large dish without piling or crowding them.
• Top with melted butter- chopped crisp bacon and/or chopped onions lightly browned in butter.
• REHEATING: One of the great things about pierogies, is that they can be made in large quantities, refrigerated, frozen and reheated without lost of quality.
• Many prefer reheated pierogies as compared to freshly boiled ones.
• To re-heat, you can 1) pan fry pierogies in butter or bacon fat until they are light in color or 2) heat the pierogies in the top of a double boiler or in the oven until they are hot and plump or 3) deep fry them.

PIEROGIES WITH POTATO AND CHEESE FILLING

Steps:

• Mix flour, water, and egg and salt together. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Cover dough with bowl and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Boil potatoes until soft. Drain and rinse. Add cheese. Let stand a few minutes until cheese melts. Then fold potatoes and cheese together.
• Roll out dough about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 3-inch squares. Fill each square of dough with one teaspoon of potato and cheese filling. Fold in half and pinch ends together to seal. Drop in hot boiling water and simmer for 8 minutes. Drain and fry in butter a few minutes until heated through. Chopped onions may be added to the butter, if desired. Salt and pepper, to taste.

PIEROGIES WITH MUSHROOM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring enough water to cover the pierogies to a boil. Place pierogies in boiling water and cook through. Remove pierogies from heat and strain. In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the sliced mushrooms and stir until they are coated with butter. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and saute until the onions are soft and the mushrooms begin to give up their liquid. Remove the skillet from heat and add the sour cream and stir until just combined.
• In another skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the cooked pierogies to the skillet and saute until browned. Transfer the pierogies to a serving platter and spoon the mushroom sauce on top.

POTATO AND CHEESE PIEROGIES

Steps:

• For the dough: Work the egg, sour cream, butter and salt in a small bowl with a whisk or fork to form a batter. Pour the flour onto a work surface and make a well in the center. Add the sour cream mixture and mix thoroughly with your hands until a dough forms. (The dough is ready to use right away but if you are not forming the pierogies immediately, wrap in plastic and refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.)
• For the filling: Stir together the mashed potatoes, cheese and chives in a medium bowl until well combined. Chill the filling so it is easier to work with.
• To form the pierogies: Roll the dough mass out to 1/8-inch thickness and cut 3-inch rounds. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling in each round, and then fold over into half-moons, being careful not to push filling into the seam. Press closed and crimp with a fork if scalloped edges are preferred.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pierogies and wait until they float, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain well.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream and garnish with chives and a crack of black pepper.

CABBAGE, KIELBASA AND PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pierogies and boil for 5-7 minutes. Pierogies should float to the surface when they are done, but that's not always true with today's frozen products - some float right away or within a minute or two. Ignore that event and boil for at least 4-5 minutes to fully cook the filling.
• Remove pierogies with a slotted spoon and drain well.
• While the water is heating for the pierogies, melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and saute until it softens, 3 - 5 minutes.
• Add cabbage and saute mixture 5 more minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Stir in sliced kielbasa and continue to cook until cabbage is done and kielbasa flavors have melded with the mixture.
• Reduce temperature to warm. Place cooked pierogies atop cabbage and season with pepper.
• Spoon some of the cabbage mixture over the pierogies to help them reheat. The dish is ready when the pierogies are heated through. Serve warm.

CABBAGE, POLISH SAUSAGE, AND PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Place the cabbage, butter, and mushrooms into a large pot or Dutch oven with lid. Season with seasoned salt, and pour in the beer. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer. While the cabbage is simmering, combine the kielbasa, garlic, onion, Worcestershire sauce, and balsamic vinegar in a skillet. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and cook until the onions have turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir the sausage mixture into the cabbage mixture, recover, and continue simmering until the cabbage is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes more.
• About 15 minutes before the cabbage is ready, fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the pierogies and return to a boil. Cook until the pierogies float to the top, 5 to 10 minutes; drain.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a clean skillet over medium-high heat. Add the drained pierogies, and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes. Gently stir the browned pierogies and diced tomatoes into the cabbage mixture, and cook 5 to 10 minutes to reheat.

GRILLED PIEROGIES AND KIELBASA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium. Grill the kielbasa, turning, until marked, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet or platter.
• Meanwhile, whisk the mustard and vinegar in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in 2 tablespoons olive oil until smooth.
• Toss the onion and pierogies with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, covered, until the pierogies thaw and the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Turn the pierogies and onion and continue to grill, covered, until the pierogies are cooked through and the onion is tender, 4 to 6 more minutes. Transfer to the baking sheet or platter.
• Slice the kielbasa into pieces and add to the bowl with the mustard dressing. Roughly chop the onion and add to the bowl along with the pierogies and parsley. Season with salt and pepper and toss. Divide among shallow bowls.

PIEROGIES AND CABBAGE

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, reserving drippings, and set aside.
• Heat bacon drippings over medium heat and stir in cabbage and onion; cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, vegetable oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and bacon; cook uncovered for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare pierogies according to package directions; drain. Combine pierogies with cabbage mixture and serve.

SMOTHERED PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the Italian sausage. Cook and stir until crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease, then remove the sausage from the skillet and place into a bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet. Stir in the onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper; cook and stir until the onion is golden, and the peppers are tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and mushrooms; cook for 1 minute more. Season with parsley, garlic powder, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir to combine, then scrape the vegetables into the bowl with the sausage.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the pierogies into the hot oil, and cook until golden brown on each side and hot in the center, about 5 minutes. Spoon the sausage and vegetable mixture over the pierogies. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and Romano cheese. Cover, and cook until the cheese has melted.

PAN FRIED PIEROGIES WITH HAM

Steps:

• Thaw pierogies in hot tap water in a large bowl; drain.
• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
• Add onions and cook until slightly softened.
• Add ham and pierogies and fry until brown and crisp.
• Add additional butter as needed.

20-MINUTE CRISPY PIEROGIES WITH BROCCOLI AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange the pierogies snugly flat-side down in the skillet (there may be some overlapping). Cook until the bottoms just begin to brown, about 3 minutes. Pour in 1/2 cup of water and simmer until the pierogi dough is tender and the water has completely evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Lower the heat to medium and continue cooking until the bottoms are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes more; watch carefully as they can go from golden to burnt quickly. Remove from the heat.
• While the pierogies cook, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, squeeze the sausage out of the casings into the skillet. Cook the sausage, stirring frequently and breaking it up into bite-size pieces, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and stir until the garlic begins to brown, about 30 seconds. Stir in the broccoli. Stir in the broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the liquid is reduced by half and the broccoli is tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Transfer the pierogies to a large, shallow serving dish and top with the sausage and broccoli mixture. Toss everything to combine and sprinkle with extra Parmesan.

PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Place the sour cream in a large bowl, and mix in flour to make a dough. Roll the dough out on a floured surface about 1/16 inch thick, and cut rounds about 3 1/2 inches across using a cookie cutter or a glass. Re-roll the unused dough to make more rounds, up to 4 times -- after that, it gets hard to work with.
• Place about 1 teaspoon of mashed potatoes in the center of each dough round, fold over into a half-moon shape, and press and seal the edges with a fork. Set the filled pierogies aside under a towel to prevent drying.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat, and cook and stir the onions until translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the cooked onions and set aside, leaving butter in the skillet.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil, and carefully drop a few filled pierogies at a time into the boiling water. After they float to the surface, allow them to gently boil for about 4 minutes.
• Re-heat the butter in the skillet over medium heat. Gently scoop the pierogies out of the water (they break easily) and place them in the skillet to brown on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Place the fried pierogies on a buttered baking sheet, sprinkle them with the cooked onions, and keep warm in the oven on low setting until served.

PIEROGIES WITH CREAMY MUSHROOM AND SHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the mushrooms, onion, salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook stirring occasionally until the mushrooms and onion are tender and lightly browned, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in sherry and cook until evaporated.
• Sprinkle in flour and stir to combine.
• Stir in milk, broth, and pierogies; bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.

HOMEMADE COTTAGE CHEESE PIEROGIES / PEROGIES - THE OLD FASHIONED

Steps:

• Cottage Cheese Filling: Combine the cottage cheese with the egg and season to taste with the salt.
• If the cheese is very dry, an additional egg (or egg yolk) or thick sour cream can be added.
• Mix the flour with the salt in a deep bowl.
• Add the egg, oil and water to make a medium soft dough.
• Knead on a floured board until the dough is smooth.
• Caution: Too much kneading will toughen the dough.
• Divide the dough into 2 parts.
• Cover and let stand for at least 10 minutes.
• Prepare the filling.
• The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape.
• Roll the dough quite thin on a floured board.
• Cut rounds with a large biscuit cutter, or as most old-world grandmothers did, with the open end of a glass.
• Put the round in the palm ofyour hand.
• Place a spoonful of filling in it, fold over to form a half circle and press the edges together with the fingers.
• The edges should be free of filling.
• Be sure the edges are sealed well to prevent the filling from running out.
• Place the pierogi on a floured board or tea towel and then cover with another tea towel to prevent them from drying out.
• COOKING: Drop a few pierogies into a large quantity of rapidly boiling salted water.
• Do not attempt to cook too many at a time.
• Stir VERY gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Continue boiling for 3-4 minutes.
• The cooling period will depend upon the size you made it, the thickness of the dough and the filling.
• Pierogies will be ready when they are puffed.
• Remove them with a perforated spoon or skimmer to a colander and drain thoroughly.
• Place in a deep dish, sprinkle generously with melted butter to prevent them from sticking.
• Cover and keep them hot until all are cooked.
• Serve in a large dish without piling or crowding them.
• Top with melted butter- chopped crisp bacon and/or chopped onions lightly browned in butter.
• REHEATING: One of the great things about pierogies, is that they can be made in large quantities, refrigerated, frozen and reheated without loss of quality.
• Many prefer reheated pierogies as compared to freshly boiled ones.
• To re-heat, you can 1) pan fry pierogies in butter or bacon fat until they are light in color or 2) heat the pierogies in the top of a double boiler or in the oven until they are hot and plump or 3) deep fry them.

HOMEMADE PITTSBURGH PIEROGIES WITH SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• To prepare the pierogi dough, mix together the flour and salt.
• Beat the egg; add all at once to the flour mixture.
• Add the 1/2 cup sour cream and the softened butter pieces and work until the dough loses most of its stickiness (about 5 to 7 minutes). You can use a food processor with a dough hook for this, but be careful not to overbeat.
• Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes or overnight; the dough can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Each batch of dough makes about 12 to 15 pierogies, depending on size.
• Roll the pierogi dough on a floured board or countertop until 1/8" thick.
• Cut circles of dough (2" for small pierogies and 3-3 1/2" for large pierogies) with a cookie cutter or drinking glass.
• Place a small ball of filling (about a tablespoon) on each dough round and fold the dough over, forming a semi-circle.
• Press the edges together with the tines of a fork.
• Boil the perogies a few at a time in a large pot of water. They are done when they float to the top (about 8-10 minutes).
• Rinse in cool water and let dry.
• Saute chopped onions in butter in a large pan until onions are soft.
• Add pierogies and pan fry until lightly crispy.
• Serve with a side of sour cream for a true Pittsburgh pierogi meal.
• Potato, Cheese & Onion Filling:
• Peel and boil 5 large potatoes until soft. Red potatoes are especially good for this.
• While the potatoes are boiling, finely chop 1 large onion and saute in butter until soft and translucent.
• Mash the potatoes with the sauted onions and 4 to 8 oz of grated cheddar cheese (depending on how cheesy you want your pierogies), adding salt and pepper to taste.
• You can also add some fresh parsley, bacon bits, chives, or other enhancements if you desire.
• Let the potato mixture cool and then form into 1" balls.

SKILLET PIEROGIES, KIELBASA AND CABBAGE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat; add cabbage and onion and saute until tender, stirring often and being careful not to burn.
• Add kielbasa and cover with lid, cooking for about 10 minutes.
• Add pierogies and stir gently to mix.
• Season to taste.

FROZEN RAVIOLI PIEROGIES

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the ravioli and cook until slightly underdone, 8 to 9 minutes (the cook time will depend on the ravioli size).
• Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, nutmeg and onions and cook until the onions are translucent and the sausage is done, about 10 minutes. Remove the sausage and onions with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the cooked ravioli to the pan and fry in the sausage fat (add 2 more tablespoons butter if the pan is dry) until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the onion-sausage mixture back in along with the sour cream and cook for 2 minutes. Finish with parsley and serve immediately.

PITTSBURGH PIEROGIES

Steps:

• 1. Pierogi dough preparation: To prepare the pierogi dough, mix together the flour and salt. Beat the egg, then add all at once to the flour mixture. Add the 1/2 cup sour cream and the softened butter pieces and work until the dough loses most of its stickiness (about 5-7 minutes). You can use a food processor with a dough hook for this, but be careful not to overbeat. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes or overnight; the dough can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Each batch of dough makes about 12-15 pierogies, depending on size.
• 2. Recipe for filling: Peel and boil 5 medium potatoes until soft. Red potatoes are especially good for this. While the potatoes are boiling, finely chop 1 large onion and saute in butter until soft and translucent. Mash the potatoes with the sauted onions and 4-8oz of grated cheddar cheese (depending on how cheesy you want your pierogies), adding salt and pepper to taste. You can also add some fresh parsley, bacon bits, chives, or other enhancements if you desire. Let the potato mixture cool and then form into 1" balls.
• 3. Prepare the pierogies: Roll the pierogi dough on a floured board or countertop until 1/8" thick. Cut circles of dough (2" for small pierogies and 3-3 1/2" for large pierogies) with a cookie cutter or drinking glass. Place a small ball of filling (about a tablespoon) on each dough round and fold the dough over, forming a semi-circle. Press the edges together with the tines of a fork. Boil the perogies a few at a time in a large pot of water. They are done when they float to the top (about 8-10 minutes). Rinse in cool water and let dry. Saute chopped onions in butter in a large pan until onions are soft. Then add pierogies and pan fry until lightly crispy. Serve with a side of sour cream for a true Pittsburgh pierogi meal.
• 4. Homemade Pierogi Tips: If you are having a hard time getting the edges to stick together, you may have too much flour in the dough. Add a little water to help get a good seal. If you don't want to cook all of the pierogies right away, you can refrigerate them (uncooked) for several days or freeze them for up to several months.

HOMEMADE POTATO AND CHEESE PIEROGIES / OLD FASHIONED PEROGIES

Steps:

• Potato and Cheese Filling: Cook the onion in butter until tender.
• Combine it with potatoes and cheese.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Vary the proportions and ingredients in this recipe to suit your taste.
• Mix the flour with the salt in a deep bowl.
• Add the egg, oil and water to make a medium soft dough.
• Knead on a floured board until the dough is smooth.
• Caution: Too much kneading will toughen the dough.
• Divide the dough into 2 parts.
• Cover and let stand for at least 10 minutes.
• Prepare the filling.
• The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape.
• Roll the dough quite thin on a floured board.
• Cut rounds with a large biscuit cutter, or as most old-world grandmothers did, with the open end of a glass.
• Put the round in the palm of your hand.
• Place a spoonful of filling in it, fold over to form a half circle and press the edges together with the fingers.
• The edges should be free of filling.
• Be sure the edges are sealed well to prevent the filling from running out.
• Place the pierogi on a floured board or tea towel and then cover with another tea towel to prevent them from drying out.
• COOKING: Drop a few pierogies into a large quantity of rapidly boiling salted water.
• Do not attempt to cook too many at a time.
• Stir VERY gently with a wooden spoon to separate them and to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Continue boiling for 3-4 minutes.
• The cooling period will depend upon the size you made it, the thickness of the dough and the filling.
• Pierogies will be ready when they are puffed.
• Remove them with a perforated spoon or skimmer to a colander and drain thoroughly.
• Place in a deep dish, sprinkle generously with melted butter to prevent them from sticking.
• Cover and keep them hot until all are cooked.
• Serve in a large dish without piling or crowding them.
• Top with melted butter- chopped crisp bacon and/or chopped onions lightly browned in butter.
• REHEATING: One of the great things about perogies, is that they can be made in large quantities, refrigerated, frozen and reheated without loss of quality.
• Many prefer reheated perogies as compared to freshly boiled ones.
• To re-heat, you can: 1) pan fry pierogies in butter or bacon fat until they are light in color or, 2) heat the pierogies in the top of a double boiler or in the oven until they are hot and plump or, 3) deep fry them.