We revived another one of Grandma’s Christmas traditions this year. We made her homemade Polish pierogi recipe.
I don’t know how Grandma did all this work herself every year for our holiday meal. She never asked anyone else to bring anything. She did all the cooking, all the baking, hosted, and did all the clean up. Occasionally I was asked to dry dishes…. and I complained! UGH! How could I have?! If only we had the wisdom of experience and could turn back time to show our gratitude and appreciation…
I am fortunate enough to have my hubby, Marty, help with these little buggers. There are not a lot of ingredients, but there are a few tedious steps, and the dough is a bit “tight” to roll out. 
In fact, you would laugh if you would have seen me climbing on a chair and kneeling on the kitchen counter to roll it out easier! Much less strain on the back that way! 🙂
We made the filling the day before and refrigerated overnight so it was easy to roll into little balls for the filling.
It is really important to seal them completely so the filling doesn’t seep out when boiling.
I use a little bit of water on my fingers to help seal, then pinch with tines of a fork.
Boiling only takes a few minutes, and they are done when they float to the top.
When ready to serve, fry the pierogies in a skillet with butter until golden brown.
Then the really yummy part comes when you caramelize sweet onions in butter and layer in between your pile or bowlful or pan full of these wonderful little pasta pockets of cheesy potato goodness.
Pierogies are a Polish tradition and a Pittsburgh tradition. There are even several stores/restaurants that strictly sell and serve pierogies. They can be made with a variety of fillings. Our favorite is potatoes and cheese, but we also love them filled with homemade saurkraut sauteed in pork. Others fill them with a cottage cheese or prune filling. Grandma always pronounced them ‘pee dough gee‘. Some people spell them ‘pieroghi’.
Whatever way you pronounce it or spell or fill it, pierogies are a wonderful treat and another fond memory of my dear Grandma, my Stella star.
Here is Grandma’s Polish Pierogi Recipe:
Dough:
4 cups flour
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 pint sour cream
2 Tbsp melted butter
Potato & Cheese Filling:
2 lbs. potatoes (I like to use Yukon Gold) Peeled, Boiled and Mashed
1/2 lb Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese (do not use pre-shredded)
Salt to taste
2 Tbsp butter
For Filling: Mash potatoes, add rest of ingredients, and blend well. Chill until ready to use.
Assembling the Pierogies:
Mix all dough ingredients together and knead until dough is smooth.
Roll out to approximately 1/4″ thickness and cut into 2-3″ circles with a drinking glass.
Add about a tablespoonful of filling to center, then fold over, seal, and crimp.
Place pierogies in boiling water and boil until they rise to the top, then remove.
When ready to serve, fry in butter in a skillet until golden brown.
Sauteed onions – the more the better are excellent served with pierogies.
We also love a dollop of sour cream on top.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 
Nom nom nom 😀 glad you didn’t fall off the chair! Great detailed post a lot of effort in preparing both! 😊 x
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Oh Jenny – if you would have seen me you would have either laughed your bum off or have been horrified. Plus I was covered in flour from head to toe. Oh if you could only see “behind the scenes” LOL! 🙂
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Those look so delicious! Oh my, so much work! I can see how this is a very special treat for you and your family. Because it is something made by your beloved grandma that makes them that much more special. Thank you for sharing this recipe and your beautiful photos of the steps! (I have never heard of them before so it was great to learn about them)!
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Thanks PJ! Once or twice a year is enough for these little buggers 🙂
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I would have to agree with you! 😀
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Grandma Stella must be shining brighter with pride. Nice tribute Jodi and thanks for the illustrated recipe. I knew of the tradition. Never made them myself.
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Those sound and look wonderful. I am ukrainen and my mom use to make them when I was little. Now we stick to cheemo. May I recommend bacon bits to the onions lol.
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That is a great idea Manibelle! Bacon makes everything better. 🙂 Grandma typically kept them meatless for Christmas Eve “holy supper” but I like that idea a lot! What is cheemo? I am not familiar with that.
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It’s just the best brand of perogies to buyin the store if u cant make them,
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What a ‘labor of love,’ Jodi! I had no idea how much work (and fun!) it is to make these Polish delicacies. Thank you for sharing the process… and all of your special memories! Wishing you a wonderful New Year! ♡
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Thank you so much, Dawn! Always great to hear from you!
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Perhaps you saved some for tomorrow?
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Perhaps there will be some left 🙂
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OMG!!!!! Those look delicious. I’ve never tried making them, but soooo many of our ethnic churches in Youngstown sell them on Friday. Our Slovak nationality calls the pirohy, but it’s the same. I’m sure your Baba was smiling down on you!!! And yes can you just imagine that they prepared all that food themselves!
Have a Blessed New Year,
Char ❤
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Thanks Char – I never appreciated how much work everything was she did. She never complained. She grows more and more my hero the older I get. I hope she sees and feels the love somehow. Happy New Year my friend! Hugs
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I love that you carried on your grandmother’s tradition, what great family memories. Those little gems look outstanding!
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Thanks Jeanne! They are so delish! 🙂
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These remind me so much of the little Chinese dumplings we eat in Taiwan…after they’re fried. When I was a little girl in Germany, we ate maultaschen which are very similar to these, I think. What a labor of love and where are the pictures of you on the counter!?!
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Ooooh! I love Chinese dumplings! They are a little different, but oh so yummy! I’ve never heard of maultaschen. Always learning something new! 🙂 NO Pics of me on the counter thank goodness! You might all unsubscribe!
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Not me! Next time do it, Jodi!!!
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Ok 🙂 I guess I did post my hair in foils already LOL!
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Wow, these look delicious!! And I so understand turning back the clock, our family Christmas has never been the same since my mother passed. God bless, and happy new year to you and yours.
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I don’t know if this is cheating, but when our church makes pierogi for a fund raiser, we roll the dough through a pasta maker. No climbing on the counters or kneeling on tables!
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That is probably a very good idea! If only I had a pasta maker! 🙂
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These look delicious! I’ve been to Poland and these are one of my favorite things to eat there. I particularly love it when I can get the ones filled with mushrooms.
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