You can buy frozen pierogies in the grocery store anytime, but having an official friends and family pierogi night is a whole lot of fun. You can stuff them with just about anything—meat, veggies, cheese, fruit fillings. The possibilities are endless and they are a great way to use up leftover cooked potatoes, a little leftover cooked protein, etc. Nobody can resist homemade pierogies sautéed in butter, and pierogi dough takes minutes to make with the aid of a food processor. This combination of spelt and all-purpose flour gives the dough a slightly nutty quality. It rolls out easily and its elasticity makes it very forgiving, which really helps when working with kids.

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Download the printable PDF dough recipe and filling recipe.

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Pierogi Dough

MAKES: twenty-four 3-inch (8 cm) pierogies

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

ASSEMBLY TIME: 20 minutes

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED: food processor, 3-inch (8 cm) round cookie cutter

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (250 mL) spelt flour
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) cold butter, cubed
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) plain yogurt
• Pierogi filling

Method:

1. In a food processor, pulse together the flours with the salt.

2. Add in butter and pulse a few times until cut into peasized pieces.

3. Add remaining ingredients and continue to pulse until the dough comes together in a ball, about 2 minutes.

4. Transfer dough onto a floured surface and knead into a smooth ball. If the dough feels sticky to the touch, knead in a little more flour. Divide into 2 flattened rounds. Wrap with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to rest. The dough can stay in the fridge like this for up to 2 days.

5. Working one round at a time (keeping the other round in the fridge) roll out the dough ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick on a lightly floured surface. Punch out circles with a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass and proceed to fill with a rounded teaspoon of filling. With fingers, wrap dough around the filling and seal edges. The dough should self-seal when pinched but use a dab of water if necessary. Crimp edges with a fork if you like. Scraps are easy to reroll, just knead them up and pop the dough back in the fridge to chill for 10 minutes before rerolling. The dough is easier to roll when chilled.

6. Cook pierogies in boiling salted water until they float to the top; strain then sauté in a hot sauté pan with melted butter. You can also bake at 400F (200C) on a lined baking sheet for 5 minutes per side.

SAVED MY LIFE: SPELT FLOUR

I started using spelt flour years ago when I was looking for a tastier replacement for whole wheat. I fell in love with its nutty flavour and was surprised at how easy it is to substitute into recipes. Try replacing 50 percent of your all-purpose flour in a recipe with spelt. It is milder, sweeter and more nutritious than whole wheat. It is not gluten-free though, which is why it is so easy to incorporate into recipes without compromising texture. You can find it now in almost any bulk food, health, or organic section of a grocery store.

PIEROGI TIPS

• The dough can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days.

• Resist overfilling the pierogis or they may explode when cooked.

• Freeze pierogies in a single layer on a baking sheet for 1 hour, then transfer into freezer-safe bags to maximize storage space. Cook the same as you would the ones you buy in the frozen food aisle. Boil from frozen until they float, then sauté in butter or oil until golden brown.