How to Make Vegan Pierogies / Vareniki

This is a Vegan version of a favorite, Pierogies! Pierogi are generally called a polish food, but it is unknown where there true origin lies. Russians refer to them as Vareniki, but generally speaking they are a semi-circle boiled dough stuffed with different foods (most often mashed potatoes and cheese). These are fun to make with a group of people so everyone is involved in making dinner!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Dough:
• 2 cup flour (Semolina)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 Tbls Silken Tofu, blended
• 1 Cup Rice Milk
• 1 tsp Oil
• Filling:
• 2 Cup Mashed Potatoes (I prefer Homemade!)
• 1/2 Lb Cheddar flavored Soy Cheeze
• veggies of choice (most commonly: sauerkraut, onions, broccoli, grated carrots, garlic, peppers, anything diced up will do!)
• Filtered Water
• Butter for frying

1. Heat 3 qts of water w/ 1 tsp of salt.
2. Mix Dough ingredients until sticky.
3. Roll out dough onto a floured surface (I use rice flour) and make into twelve even balls. Flatten out each with the palm of your hand until you have a flatted circle of dough.
4. Mix the filling together and put the bowl in the middle of the table, along with the floured dough circles and a small bowl of room temperature water. Give everyone participating a lightly floured plate.
5. Place 1-2 Tbls of the filling onto the bottom half of each dough circle leaving a edging around the outside. Fold the top half towards you and press the edges together forming a half circle. Pinch the ends tightly together (sometimes a fork can come of great service here).
6. As the Pierogies are each being made someone will assume the job to boil them in sets of 2-4. Carefully drop each Pierogi into the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes. Remove with a strainer spoon and leave to drain.
7. Once a few Pierogies are done draining another person can assume the job to fry the Pierogies in butter on a frying pan over medium heat. Fry only until the side browns and turn over. This is just making them a little crispy so they aren't too soggy.
8. Warm the stove to it's lowest temperature and then place the Pierogies that have been both boiled and fried in it on a cookie sheet until all are complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Give who ever finishes stuffing first the job to warm some Marinara Sauce for the Pierogies, because man that is a yummy combo!
• Plan out who will be the boiler and the frier first so there is less confusion when it comes time for them to assume that role rather then stuffing.
• This will feed about 4 people, but it is a great thing to do with friends so multiply the recipe so that you can feed everyone! (Normally 3-4 Pierogies each if that is all you serve).
• with garlic bread and some Bruschetta for a nice combination!
• Make sure everyone is careful not to over stuff and also to seal them well. They will open up if there is too much in them or if they weren't sealed all the way.
• Don't over boil. Over boiling often makes them fall apart.
• Also be careful not to fry for too long. They WILL burn!