Homemade Pierogies

sour cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: plain yogurt

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Low-fat cheese reduces calories while still providing flavor.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier and can be used for frying.

bacon

🥗Healthier: turkey bacon

💰Cheaper: smoked sausage

Turkey bacon is lower in fat while smoked sausage provides a similar flavor.

Mix 1/4 cup softened or melted butter with 4 cups of flour and 1.5 teaspoons of salt until the butter is evenly incorporated.

Crack an egg into a measuring cup and stir in enough water to make up 2 cups, then add half of the water mixture to the flour and stir.

Continue to knead in more liquid until a soft dough is formed; it will be slightly sticky but not very sticky.

Cut the dough into pieces and wrap in plastic wrap, patting them smooth.

Put the wrapped dough into the fridge for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.

Get a 3-inch diameter cookie cutter, flour the surface well, and roll out one of your discs to about 1/8 inch thick.

Cut circles as close together as possible, gathering scraps (rerolls) and putting them in the fridge, discarding any scraps after the first reroll.

For the filling, boil 2 pounds of peeled potatoes until fork tender, then drain and mash with 3/4 cup of shredded cheese, 1/2 cup of Velveeta or cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of butter, and salt and pepper to taste.

To fill, use a little water along one side of the dough circle, fold it up like a half moon, and pinch the wet side with the dry side, ensuring there are no gaps along the seal.

Place pinched pierogies on a floured towel-lined pan, ensuring they don't touch each other to prevent sticking.

Put half of the pierogies into a big pot of boiling water and cook, stirring gently, until they float.

Transfer the cooked pierogies to cool tap water and let them chill completely before draining them very well.

Toss the drained pierogies with a little bit of oil and package them for the freezer.

Shake the bag in the freezer every hour or so until they're frozen solid to prevent clumping.

For quick dinners, thaw and heat them in the microwave, in boiling water, or in the air fryer.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens