Recipe: Polish Pierogi with Sauerkraut and Meat Filling

POLISH PIEROGI WITH SAUERKRAUT AND MEAT FILLING

FOR THE PIEROGI FILLING:
1/2 lb bacon or 1/2 lb pork or 1/2 lb beef, chopped
15 ounces sauerkraut, finely chopped
8 ounces cabbage, shredded
8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
Ground black pepper
FOR THE PIEROGI DOUGH:
4 cups flour
3/4 to 1 cup warm beef stock (or 3/4 to 1 cup beef bouillon)
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
Melted butter or oil (for coating after cooking)

TO MAKE THE FILLING:
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.

TO MAKE THE DOUGH:
Combine the ingredients listed under dough, except melted butter or oil, 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).

TO FILL AND COOK THE PIEROGI:
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 to 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 in boiling salted water, 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.

Makes 8 servings
Adapted from source: littleturtle/Food.com