Hey! Strawberries are in season, yes they are! Did you know that you can make strawberry pierogi? And you eat them with sweet sour cream and dream about the Eastern European countryside.
I think rolling and kneading pierogi dough might be may favorite thing ever. It has a great texture. It’s really soft and supple and quite elastic. There are a couple of ways to fill pierogi with strawberries, but I think this is the best one. A whole little strawberry tucked inside the lovely supple dough. The other way would be to cut the strawberries into little pieces and shape them differently, more like a half moon. But these are more cute, right!?
So here you go, try and love them.
Strawberry Pierogi
3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 large egg
2 tbsp neutral oil (like sunflower or grape seed)
1 tsp salt (plus extra for boiling water)
1/2 cup – 3/4 cups warm water
1 pound small strawberries, hulled and cut in half if not small
1 tbsp powdered sugar
sour cream and powdered sugar for serving
– To make the dough pour the flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and crack the egg, pour the oil and sprinkle the salt. Mix a little with a fork and then slowly add the water, just 1/2 cup at first. Start to mix with your hands forming a dough. Add more water if too dry and flour if too wet. Flour your kneading surface well and knead the dough for 10-15 minutes until well incorporated and it looks like the gluten has formed well. Keep adding flour as needed. Place the dough ball on a well floured surface and cover with the mixing bowl you used before, let it rest for about half an hour.
– Meanwhile prepare your strawberries. Once they are cleaned and cut toss them gently in the powdered sugar. Set a big pot of salted water to boil. Prepare a cutting board with flour.
– Once the dough has rested take half of it and roll it out on a well floured surface until thin but not see through. Use a wide thin cup to make circles, as close together as you can.
– Take out a circle and use the stickier side to fill. Place a strawberry, or half in the center. Using your thumb, index and middle finger on both hands take all the corners like you are pinching to make a little cross and then and seal it tightly. They will look like cute little packages.
– Place each one on the floured cutting board, making sure they don’t touch each other. You will put them in the freezer after doing a couple and keep adding. They cook nicely if a little bit frozen. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
– Once they are ready plop them in the water, not more than 10 at a time. Stir them a bit to make sure they don’t stick. After they float to the top let them cook another 5 minutes. Strain them out with a slotted spoon into a strainer.
– They taste the best served right away. Mix some sour cream with a little powdered sugar and enjoy!
-julia rad
Babushka Training 