Perogi (Pierogi)

In Polish this is normally spelt "Pierogi"

This is a very simple old traditional recipe for perogi, the most popular Polish dish, there are many modern derivatives but this is the original recipe. The recipe is translated directly from a Polish Cookery Book over 100 years old. (cooking being much simpler in those days).

dkg = Decagram. 1 Decagram = 10 grams = 0.35274 oz     

   Filling

• 80 dkg potatoes                
  20 dkg cottage cheese
  5 dkg onions
  3 dkg fat
  salt, pepper
• Pastry
• 35 dkg plain flour
• 1 egg
• pinch of salt
• 4 dkg butter to pour over the finished dish

1) Scrub the potatoes under running water,boil and peel,add cheese, salt and pepper.

2) Mince potatoes in mincing machine.(this would have been one of the old hand mincers), if using a food processor only mince very lightly.

3) Cut the onions into small pieces and fry till soft.

4) Sieve the flour, add an egg and salt to make a pastry.Make the pastry. This should be quite thin. Cut rings about 5 cm in diameter, using a glass or other round object

5) Put a table spoon of a filling on one side of the circle of pastry then fold in two and seal the edge with egg.

6) Boil some salted water put the pastry parcels in it, they are ready when they float to the surface.

7) Pour melted butter over them, chopped bacon is also sometimes sprinkled over the top.