Vareniki (Ukrainian Filled Dumplings)
"Vareniki are made with a simple noodle dough and can be filled with anything from sauerkraut to sour cherries. While boiling is a traditional method of cooking vareniki, they can also be fried in vegetable oil."
- Ready In:
- 1hr 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 29
- Yields:
-
50-55 vareniki
- Serves:
- 4
ingredients
-
For the noodle dough
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- salt, to taste
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 7 -8 tablespoons water
- 1 large egg white, lightly beaten
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
-
For the Potato Filling
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 large potatoes, peeled, boiled, and mashed
- 1⁄4 lb farmer cheese
- 2 ounces colby cheese, grated
- salt and pepper, to taste
-
For the Cheese Filling
- 2 cups farmer cheese
- 1 large egg yolk
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla sugar
-
For the Sauerkraut Filling
- 3 slices bacon, diced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 1⁄2 cups packaged sauerkraut (not canned)
- 1 1⁄2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1⁄3 cup chicken broth or 1/3 cup beef broth
-
For the Cherry Filling
- 4 cups sour cherries, pitted fresh or 4 cups sour cherries, jarred
- 1⁄2 cup sugar, for fresh cherries, 1/4 cup sugar, for jarred
- cherry juice, as needed
- 1⁄4 cup cherry flavored liqueur
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
directions
- In a food processor, blend the flour and 1/2 tsp salt. With the motor running, add the egg yolks and the oil through the feed tube. then pour in the water, in a slow steady stream, until the dough forms a ball around the blade. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 2 minutes. Cover with a cotton towel and let stand for 30 minutes.
- Divide the dough in half and shape into two balls. Keep one ball covered with the towel while working with the other ball. On a floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to a very thin sheet, about 1/16 inch thick, making sure it doesn't tear. With a round cookie cutter, cut out circles about 3 inches in diameter. Gather the scraps into a ball and set aside, covered.
- Have a bowl with the egg white near you. Place a heaping tsp of the desired filling in the middle of each circle. Fold the dough over the filling to form a semi-circle. Brush the edges with the egg white and press the edges firmly together with the tines of a fork to seal. Place the vareniki as they are made on a lightly floured large baking sheet about 1 inch apart and keep covered with a damp cloth.
- When you have finished making this batch of vareniki, roll out the 2nd ball of dough and make a second batch. Add the leftover scraps left from the first batch, knead into a ball, and roll out for a final batch of vareniki.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot, bring 6 quarts of salted water to boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium so the water simmers and carefully lower half the vareniki into the water. Boil, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking, until they rise to the surface, and are cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, carefully remove the vareniki to a colander and drain thoroughly. Transfer to a deep serving bowl and toss with half the butter.
- Cook the rest of the vareniki in the same way.
- Makes 50 to 55 vareniki. (Serves 4 people as an entree.).
-
For the Potato Filling:
- Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute, stirring occasionally, until nicely browned, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the potatoes and cheese. Add the sauteed onion along with the cooking fat and mix well. Season with salt and pepper, then use to fill the vareniki.
-
For the Cheese Filling:
- In a large bowl, combine all the filling ingredients and mix thoroughly. Use as a filling for the vareniki.
-
For the Sauerkraut Filling:
- Rinse and squeeze thoroughly to dry the sauerkraut.
- Saute the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it renders its fat. Remove the bacon and reserve. Drain off all but 2 Tbsp fat.
- Add the onion to the skillet and saute, stirring frequently over medium heat until nocely browned, almost 15 minutes. Turn the heat up to medium-high, add the sauerkraut, and saute, stirring, until softened and cooked throughout, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, sugar, and broth. Reduce the heat to low, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature before using to fill the vareniki. Use the reserved bacon as a topping.
-
For the Cherry Filling:
- If you are using the fresh cherries, mix them with the 1/2 cup sugar and leave in a warm place for several hours until they begin to give off their juice. Strain the juice. You should have about 2 cups. If less, add canned or bottled cherry juice.
- If you are using canned cherries, drain them thoroughly and reserve 2 cups of the syrup. Mix the canned cherrieswith the 1/4 cup sugar. Reserve several cherries for garnish.
- In a small saucepan, bring the reserved juice or syrup to a boil over medium-high heat. Let boil until reduced to about 1 cup. Remove from the heat, stir in the liqueur, and let cool to room temperature. Reserve to pour over the filled and colled vareniki.
- Toss the cherries with the cornstarch. fill each vareniki with 2 fresh or 4 canned cherries, sealing especially tightly.
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Reviews
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Having recently returned from Ukraine and forgotten the recipe. I tried this one and my children rated it 10/10 in comparison to their Ukrainian auntie's. I am led to believe that u can also freeze them, but remember to put them on a plate or baking tray when initially freeaing them as if you put them in a bag before frozen they will all stick together!!! Thank you! -
I used the part of the recipe for the noodle dough and, for the most part, the potato filling for some of my dumplings. I used my pasta rollers to roll out the dough thinly. Very very tasty. -
I loved this recipe. I have made it a few time since first finding it. The dough is super easy to make. I made the potato filling for one batch and then mixed the potato filling with recipe #150049 all mashed up and that was to die for. I made that for diner at a friends house. It was a hit all around. I also changed on thing, after boiling them, I tossed them in my recipe #225766. That added a whole extra dimension of flavor The best part is that you can make this up ahead of time and freeze it for later.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Retired world traveler. I have collected recipes from many of the places I have been. Not the recipes from the local 5 star restaraunts but the cuisine that the REAL people eat! Lots of interesting stuff out there people eat!
Love to try out those recipes I have collected now that I have the time. Only problem is finding the original ingredients.
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