Did you ever have a moment when you set your mind on preparing something specific for dinner, then realized that you were short on the quantity of the main ingredient?
The other day, I was set to make varenyky (Ukrainian word for Pierogi), and realized that I was one cup short of all-purpose flour and low on sour cream, so I added whole wheat flour, and used oil to fill in the gap.
One of the most popular dishes in Eastern European cuisine is Filled Dumplings, known as: Varenyky or Pyrohy in Ukrainian, and Pierogi in Polish. They are made from homemade pasta dough and filled with varieties of fillings, but potato and cheese filling being the most popular.
It is definitely “labor of love” for those who make them from scratch, as it requires several hours of preparation time, but it is so well worth it.
If you like stuffed peppers but are looking for a healthier grain, rather than white rice, Brown Rice, Quinoa, or Bulgur, are great substitutions.
Today, I will share a recipe for stuffed peppers with bulgur and ground turkey that I recently tested and loved.
If you like varenyky (Dumplings, Perogy, Pierogi, or however you know them as) as much as you love chocolate, this is a dream come true recipe for you.
These type of varenyky are more suitable as a unique dessert, rather than a traditional meal.
With Christmas Eve just around the corner, many Eastern Europeans will be making Varenyky (Pierogy, Perogy) for their Christmas Eve 12 course meatless meal.
Making them from scratch is an involved process, but totally worth the effort, since all the manufactured ones don’t stand a chance when compared to the real stuff….you will agree if you tasted them both.