HOMEMADE PIEROGI PIROHI PYROHY: History, Fun Facts and Gram's Authentic Recipe
No matter what spelling variant you use, you must try an authentic homemade Pierogi!
A pierogi is unleavened dough that is traditionally stuffed with mashed potato filling and/or other ingredients such as cheese, sauerkraut, cabbage, mushrooms, spinach, ground beef and even fruit for a dessert version depending on the cooks’ preferences. They are then boiled, baked or fried. Pierogi are usually semicircular, but are rectangular and triangular in some cuisines. The concept is similar to the Italian ravioli and the Chinese potsticker.
HAVE YOU EVER ATE A PIEROGI?
See results without votingResearching the history of pierogi is a difficult task as many ethnic groups claim to be the birthplace of the pierogi. Therefore, its origins are not easily traced yet it has been widely accepted as being Polish. I agree, because my Polish Grandmother made the BEST Pierogi and therefore, I am most familiar with pierogi as a Polish tradition.
Grandma’s favorite pierogi fillings included mashed potatoes, cheese & onions and mashed potatoes & sauerkraut; boiled and then fried in real butter, onions and salt; then topped with sour cream. Yum, yum, yum! She also made prune pierogi for those who liked (or needed) to eat prunes.
The Polish word pierogi is plural. The singular form of the word is pierog. To me, that just sounds silly. “I ate a pierog for lunch today.” Seriously, who eats just one pierog??? Not anyone in my family!
The United States has the most developed pierogi market because it was the destination of choice for the majority of Eastern European immigrants prior to, and during, World War II. (Canada was second.)
I do realize that not everyone knows what a pierogi is . . . but not here where I live in Ohio. Within walking distance is a neighborhood recently dedicated as Ukrainian Village. And then there is nearby Slavic Village. And so many other ethnic neighborhoods that you don’t have to go far to find a variation of this dough filled treat. Pierogi are a staple offered at ethnic church carnivals, bazaars, fundraisers and bingo nights. And they are a popular side item with fish-fry dinners during the Lenten season.
Don't Miss This Special Event!
Whitting, Indiana’s Annual Pierogi Fest held annually the last full weekend in July. There are tons of fun activities including a Polka Parade, a Mr. Pierogi songfest, a pierogi toss, a pierogi eating contest, and more. They even have a Polish Idol singing contest where contestants choose from a preapproved list of songs all about food. This festival draws almost 200,000 people each year! CHECK IT OUT http://www.pierogifest.net/
DID YOU KNOW?
- Pierogi have been made in Poland since the 13th century.
- The word pierogi first appeared in Polish literature in the second half of the 17th century and was prepared only for holidays such as Christmas and Easter.
- Ted Twardzik Sr. founded Mrs. T’s Pierogies October 8, 1952, producing the first samples for a local grocery store. Mrs. T’s remains the largest producer of (frozen) pierogi in the U.S. (although I am positive that the commercial versions are not the same as Grandma’s)
- Pierogi became a popular “food for athletes” when Paula Newby-Fraser claimed them as her food of choice in the 1980’s while preparing for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon. Many athletes began using pierogi as an alternative to boost their carbohydrate intake.
- There really is a Mrs. T – Ted’s Mother, Mary Twardzik
- According to Mrs. T’s, there is a geographical region dubbed the “Pierogi Pocket” which makes up approximately 68% of pierogi consumption in the U.S. This pocket includes New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Chicago, Detroit, parts of the northern Midwest and southern New England.
MORE FUN FACTS ABOUT PIEROGI
- The Pittsburgh Pirates home baseball games always include a “pierogi race” with people dressed up as pierogi.
- Ten students from a catering school in Poland were entered into the Guinness World Records Book for making 1,663 pierogi (90 pounds) in 100 minutes.
- In
the early 1990’s, a 25-foot, 6,000 pound, roadside tribute to the pierogi was
erected in the village of Glendon in Alberta Canada. There is also an annual "Pyrohy Festival" held on the first Saturday of September.
- In November 2005, a woman claimed she had an image of Jesus Christ seared into the side of a pierogi she made. Her family placed the pierogi on eBay and netted $1,775. Of course, this was much less than the $28,000 netted for a grilled cheese sandwich on eBay with a vision of the Virgin Mary on it.
MY GRANDMOTHER’S PIEROGI RECIPE
There is nothing better than making your own authentic homemade pierogi. Depending on how many pierogi you are planning on making, it can be time consuming BUT SO WORTH IT. Why not get a small group together and spend the day making pierogi. Have fun and make enough to freeze for later too.
GRANDMA’S PIEROGI DOUGH (makes approx. 12-15)
2 C. flour
½ t. salt
1 large egg
½ C. sour cream (this used to be Gram’s secret but everyone does it now)
¼ C. butter softened (cut in small pieces)
To prepare the dough, mix the flour and salt together. Beat the egg and add to the flour mixture. Add sour cream and softened butter and kneed (Grandma used her hands) for about 5 minutes until it loses its stickiness. A mixer with a dough hook can be used but be sure not to over mix it. It needs to be a consistency that is easy to roll out. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. The dough can be kept for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
Roll out the pierogi dough on a floured surface until it is about 1/8” thick. Use a round cookie cutter or drinking glass to cut out circles of dough approximately 3” in diameter.
Filling recipe is below. Place a small ball of filling (approx. 1 tablespoon) on each dough round and fold the dough over to form a semi-circle. Press the edges together with your fingers to ensure a good seal. You can decorate the edges with the tines of a fork if you wish. If the edges are not sticking together, it may be because there is too much flour on the dough. Add a little water to help get a good seal.
Place pierogi in a large pot of boiling water, maybe 6 or so at a time, for about 8-10 minutes. You will know they are done when they float to the top. Remove and let cool on a cookie sheet.
How Grandma would serve her pierogi: Chop onions and sauté in butter in a large frying pan until the onions are tender. Add cooked pierogi and fry until lightly browned. Serve with the onions and a side of sour cream. Enjoy!
GRANDMA’S Potato, Cheese & Onion PIEROGI FILLING
5 large potatoes
1 large onion finely chopped
2 T. butter
8 oz. grated sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper
To make the pierogi filling, peel and boil 5 large potatoes until soft. Grandma used red potatoes. While the potatoes are boiling, finely chop 1 large onion and sauté in butter until tender and translucent. Mash the potatoes with the sautéed onions and cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let the potato mixture cool. The consistency should be thick where you can roll it into a ball if you wish.
THERE ARE ENDLESS IDEAS FOR PIEROGI FILLINGS. GET CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN!
This is Sharyn's Slant
eBay
|
Brand New Pierogi Rug - Great Gift for a Polish Friend!
Current Bid: $9.99
|
|
RAVIOLI MAKER PELMENI MEAT DUMPLING + PIEROGI PEROGI VARENYKY + CHEBUREKI MOLD
Current Bid: $32.99
|
|
VARENIKI PIEROGI UKRAIN MAKER FORM RAVIOLI MOLD METAL
Current Bid: $3.26
|
Preview To Making Your Own Pierogi
Amazon
 | Amazon Price: $12.93 List Price: $16.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $22.99 |
Check out some of my other articles here on HubPages . . .
- Best Diet Plan for PCOS Patients
PCOS is caused by an imbalance of women's hormones. Serious health problems can occur if left untreated. The best defense against PCOS is eating a healthy diet. - 19 hours ago
- Symptoms of Anxiety & Panic Attacks
Do you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks? Learn the signs and symptoms including immediate things you can do for relief. - 4 days ago
- How to Stop Enabling a Drug Addict
Although you may have the best intentions and mean well, enabling an addict actually contributes to their addiction. Learn the warning signs of enabling behavior and how to break the toxic cycle. - 6 days ago
- How to Choose a Baby Shower Theme
Choosing the theme for a baby shower can be a difficult task. But once you do, the rest of the planning falls in to place. And then you can relax and enjoy the party! - 10 days ago
- Ideas for KIDS to EARN MONEY DURING SCHOOL BREAKS
Many school-age children who are under the age requirement to obtain official “working papers” are capable of working - and want to work - to earn some spending money. Here you will find creative ideas for kids to earn an income during their school breaks. - 5 weeks ago
 | Amazon Price: $13.15 |
| Amazon Price: $22.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $10.61 List Price: $16.95 |
Comments
Good Morning Bret,
How are you? Thanks for being the first to comment. Pierogi making "parties" can be a lot of fun. And see how difficult it is to determine what is the true origin of the pierogi? I guess it is whatever origin you want it to be as long as you enjoy them! For me, they are TOTALLY POLISH :)
Have a great day,
Sharyn
Wow, Sharyn that is a lot of great information! I might have to check out that Indiana festival, as I love unique-themed festivals. Your grandma's recipe sounds delicious but not impossibly difficult. Yum!
Hello dearabbysmom,
That festival does sound like a hoot. It's three days long ~ so I'm sure there is plenty to do. Check out their website. And Gram's recipe is quite simple. There was always something about her cooking and her special touch and how she "pinched" the pierogi that made them just perfect. Thanks for stopping by ~ have a great day!
Sharyn
Ah, Sharyn... This brings back memories of an older (yes, Polish) lady I used to work with who made the best pierogi I ever had... This is awesome in detail and makes me want to get them a try...(or at the very least eat some soon)-- cool spelling variations I had never heard of...
Thank you~~ Voted UP, USEFUL & AWESOME...!
Hi Mar,
Thanks so much for your awesome comments and votes. You should try making them. It's quite easy. Certainly, the ingredients are simple.
I'm thinking it would be fun to get about 3 others friends involved and have them each make and bring a different filling. Then together we make the dough and put them together. A good time with friends and/or family!
Also, selling pierogi as a fundraiser could also be another great idea. The ingredients are not that expensive either. Have a wonderful day!
Sharon
Bookmarked!
We go to an annual Polish festival and these are always on the menu.
Hi WillStarr,
Thanks for bookmarking :)
Now that I wrote this, I'm craving 'em. I know the area churches are selling them during Lent now. I think I'll take a drive . . . have a great day!
Sharyn
Sharyn~~ Thank you for that idea... our Ladies group at Church look for fundraisers... I am always a great helper but would be intimidated to try solo... and I do have a few buddies (much better cooks...)that would enjoy getting together... love the different filling idea as well... (but I will probably have to buy them all...!!)
Hey Mar,
Just remember that they freeze quite well for a couple months :)
And if I was selling them as a fundraiser, I would sell a "baker's dozen" ~ 13. I've bought pierogi from a nearby Ukrainian church and when I made them, there was 13 in the bag. I thought, hmmmm, they counted wrong. But when I bought them again, there were 13. They sell them as a dozen and always put 13 in the bag. I thought that was nice :) Have fun!
Sharyn
Way to go! Loved this article. I'm going to try your recipe because I also love....you guessed it!
Cool Linda,
Thanks for the compliment. Do you live in Ohio by any chance:) I'll send you the address.
Sharyn
I have had these Sharyn - but only recently. They were the frozen kind. I knew I was probably missing out on the REAL ones:). I bet your grams are delicious! I doubt I could do them justice it seems like a ton of work!
Hey RH,
Obviously you are not from the north, ha! Truly, the frozen ones are not the same but they are good for a quick fix. But YOU CAN DO THEM JUSTICE Kel. It's really not that hard and you have three girls to help you out. It would be a Mother/Daughters bonding experience :)
As always, thanks for stopping by!
Sharyn
You are right, I was just thinking that it can't be much harder than making pot stickers and I make those fairly well. At least they taste good but don't look so pretty! The girls just want to play with the dough:-)!
Wow this is great Sharyn, I have never made Pierogi so this is a new one for me! And a family recipe, this is a gem Sharyn, thanks so much for a detailed recipe, memories & hub!
RH,
There is nothing pretty about pierogi. It's all in the taste. Eat 'em quick, you won't notice any imperfections :)
Hi CK,
Thanks for checking this out. I'm thinking a lot about my Mom and Gram lately and miss both of their wonderful cooking. On occasion, I cook for my Dad and he'll say "I remember when your Mother made this." I don't dare ask if it tastes like hers ~ why ruin great memories. As always, thanks Kathy!
Sharyn
Your Gram and mine surely went to the same pierogi school! Pierogi absolutely shouldn't be eaten without being fried with onions in butter first. In our house, this omission is considered a sin, requiring confession and penance. :)
This is a wonderfully written, laid out, entertaining, and informative Hub that does our tradition proud. Thanks so much!
Morning Sally,
Ah yes, fried onions and real butter. The smell of this alone is so wonderful! No necessary penance or confession here, we haven't swayed after all these years :)
Whatever that school is that our Gram's went to was awesome, wasn't it?
Thank you so much for your wonderful comments.
Sharyn
Sharyn~~ I love the idea of selling them in numbers of (13)... THANKS again for this wonderful idea ~~ as well as the freezing, which I would not have thought of (people will then buy more...!)
You are very welcome Mar. I hope you do it ~ let me know how it goes!
Sharyn
We have our Carnival in June and I'm thinking this would be a great venue... I am bringing it up at our next meeting and will keep you posted... thanks again, Sharyn.
Sounds great Mar! I am looking forward to all the festivals coming up. Good food, music and lots of fun!
I love periogis! Thanks for the recipes and all the other interesting info. Great pictures and videos. Voted up and useful.
Hi toknowinfo,
Thanks for the great comment and votes. I actually ate pierogi today ~ but I didn't make them :) Have a great night!
Sharyn
Yummy! That picture of the pierogi looks delicious. I've only had frozen pierogis which were not all that bad, but wow I'd love to make them homeade sometime. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Emily,
The frozen ones are pretty good, I agree. But they are still better homemade. I hope you try it. Make enough to freeze some. They make a great quick meal with a salad, etc. Take care,
Sharyn
Hi Share!
I can honestly say I have never eaten Pierogi. Believe it? It's true! The only place I've ever heard it mentioned was in the first "Men In Black" movie. I always wondered what it was they were eating! (: We are kinda "bass-ackwards" here in Kansas. Behind in pretty much everything. Movies come out here last. Foods that we've never heard of. You know...EVERYTHING! tee hee (:
I tell ya what though, after reading your Gram's recipe's, my mouth is watering! I have to pick up a few ingredients, but I'm making them this weekend. Can't wait! I'm 'bookmarking' this Hub so I can have it on hand quickly.
Great "fun facts" too. I never knew until now.
Thanks for the share, Share!
peace in your heart...always,
Diana
Diana,
It's so funny that I never really realized how many people never ate a Pierogi. I am so glad you will make them. I think you'll have fun doing it. Of course you'll let me know how it goes . . . good luck!
Hugs,
Sharyn
I've always wanted a recipe to make these tasty little morsels and now I have one. Thanks for sharing your grandma's recipes.
Hi Becky,
Thanks so much for stopping by. Pierogi recipes/ingredients are quite simple. It's the "pinch of love" that makes them the best. Don't forget to add that too :)
Have a great day!
Sharyn
I haven't had pierogi's since my New York days NOW I want them and I want it NOW! An outstanding, yummy hub! I swear I'm gaining weight just from reading recipes on HP! Hahaha!
Oh my word. I need a pierog now. But just one. I never ever eat more than that. Just playing. But I've only ever had frozen ones before. Your Gram's homemade pierogis look the BEST. I will have to try making my own soon.
Sharyn,
Your Hub made me so hungry! My background is Russian, Romanian, and Moldovan. My great-grandmother used to make a Pierogi-type treat with a potato and cabbage filling. She never used measuring utensils -- just a handful of this or a pinch of that -- and everything always turned out perfectly.
Sunshine,
I'm glad you liked this one. Please tell me they do have pierogi in Florida. Either way though, you can always try making them :) I want some NOW too and not Mrs. Ts.
SS
Ardie, please, you can never have just one pierogi and I don't care how big they are :) And only Mrs. Ts? Oh my are you missing out. Drive over to Parma and I will tell you the best places (churches) to get awesome pierogi. Or you can wait until I make them and come over for dinner. But it IS a lot of fun to make your own. And plan on making a lot so you can freeze them for later too.
Sharyn
Hi Daisy,
Sure, cabbage is great too! And honestly, my grandma never used measuring utensils either. I fibbed. I had to for the sake of this article. But gram's handfuls and pinches always came out perfectly too. Thanks for your great feedback!
Sharyn
These sound absolutely amazing... although I don't assume they are very healthy... :) I will definately have to try these because I am not sure if I have had them before. I might have because I think they have them at the Melting Pot. But your Grandma's recipe sounds delicious!
Morning BBG,
You certainly could eliminate the toppings, i.e., butter and sour cream. And you could fill them with something healthier like spinach, etc. Even add a meat for protein instead of just cheese. Be creative - I bet the kids would love them. Happy New Years Eve!
Sharyn
I have so many relatives that make pierogi's and I've always only ever made the ones you buy frozen. I know the home made ones taste so much better though. I may have to surprise everyone and try to make your grandmothers recipe.
Hi Susan,
That's surprising to me knowing how much you love to cook. I'm sure yours will be fabulous! It's much better when the ones you "take out of the freezer" are the ones you worked so hard to create. (also make extras to freeze) I say do it! Thanks for stopping by!
Sharyn
I can't wait to give this one a try. I have never had one that I can remember, and I love to experiment with foods. Thanks so much for sharing!
Nice article Sis! I remember making them all day with Grandma. What a special day it was and also an even more special memory to have. The recipe I remember and have written down is a bit different. A little trick she showed me was to roll the dough in a long tube and slice them. There is no waste this way ;-) I may have to take a day now to make them!! Thanks for making me crave them! Love ya Sis!
I've always wanted to know how to make these! Thanks for the recipe! I'm pinning this.
I've enjoyed pierogi with all kinds of fillings. Thanks for showing me how to make my own. Voting this Up and Useful.
Great Hub. I lived in Poland for 2 years, and as a vegetarian, the pierogi you taught me now how to make was my favorite (called 'pierogi ruskie' or Russian pierogi). I've only made them with pre-prepared potsticker dough rounds before. Served up with caramelized onions and butter, they are delicious! Dziekuje bardzo za przepis!
Mmmm, I love Pierogies. I have even made them it was a lot of work, but worth it. Your Hub makes me want to pull out Grandma's recipe, and add some of your ideas. I have tried to hang on to some of those recipes from the Old Country, but in those days they never wrote anything down. Thanks for the info!
I love pierogi but have only bought the frozen ones. I will bookmark this recipe. Great Hub.
Cindy ~ No way??? You have never had pierogi? You must try them. Please let me know how they come out when you make them. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Sharyn
Chrissy my dear sister ~ Now why didn't Grandma tell me that trick? Hmmmmm . . . As simple as it sounds, I would not have thought of rolling the dough into a tube shape and then cutting. I always hate when you have that left over dough when you are cutting circles and have to re-use it. Grandma was very resourceful! I miss her and Mom SO much. Please let me know when you do make Gram's pierogi, I am craving some now too. Love you!!!
Sharyn
Hi Aya ~ Thanks so much for stopping by and pinning too. You must try them and make enough to freeze for later too. I appreciate your feedback.
Sharyn
Hi Alocsin ~ You are very welcome. I am thrilled that you liked this. Thanks so much for your feedback and votes.
Sharyn
LiveLonger ~ Oh, I bet the pierogi were great in Poland. No doubt they are a great option for vegetarians since you can stuff them with so many options. I've never used "potsticker" dough but I would imagine that this recipe is somewhat different in texture. And yes, you know how to eat them the way I love them, onions and butter. Yummmmmmy! Thanks for your feedback!
Sharyn
Hey BabyBoomer ~ I know, I agree that so many great recipes were never written down. My sisters and I made sure we got certain recipes like the pierogi and kolachi's from my Gram. But we were fortunate, Gram lived to be almost 103 years old. And many years ago, I bought our Mom a blank recipe book where Mom did write down her favorite recipes. So we are lucky to have those too. Thank you so much for your great feedback.
Sharyn
Hi moonlake ~ Frozen pierogi are great but not the same. I hope you do try to make them yourself. You will be very proud of how delicious they really are. I really appreciate you stopping by. Thank you,
Sharyn
Oh my goodness these sound delicious! I am so glad you included the video. I am definitely going to have to give these a try sometime. I might just have to pay a visit to that area in Ohio and try them there. In fact, I might be in Ohio this summer. Time for me to check the map.
voted up and across SHARED too :)
Hi MissOlive ~ Yes, they are delicious. You should try them, bet your family would love them homemade. BUT, you are more then welcome to come to Ohio. Just make sure you let me know so we could visit. Thanks for your feedback, votes and sharing too!
Sharyn
Bretsuki 13 months ago
Hello Sharyn, my wife is half Polish, her family emigrated from Southern Poland to Connecticut about a century ago. Occasionally she, her mother and aunt will have a pyrogi making party. I love them.
We have a long standing argument though, I say they are British in origin, they are a Cornish Pasty :)But whichever name,they taste great. Thanks for this hub.