Vareniki – Traditional Ukrainian & Russian Recipe

Wondering what is vareniki? Vareniki are traditional Ukrainian dumplings, similar to Polish pierogi. In this recipe, they are stuffed with potato, caramelized onion, and delicious bacon!

These little pockets of joy are the ultimate comfort food! If you enjoy exploring different cuisines, you might also like these recipes: Albanian cornbread, Albanian fërgesë, and Albanian flija.

Now let’s jump to the recipe.

What is The History Of Vareniki?

Vareniki has a long history that goes back many centuries. They come from Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine and Russia. The idea of filled dumplings like vareniki may have been influenced by the Turks and Mongols who traveled through the region long ago.

In Ukraine, vareniki are a big part of their culture and are often eaten during holidays and family gatherings.

What is Vareniki Made Of?

Vareniki are made of a simple dough and a variety of fillings. Here’s a basic breakdown of the ingredients:

Dough:

• Flour
• Water or milk
• Eggs
• Salt

Filling (for this recipe):

• Potatoes
• Caramelized onions
• Bacon
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

The dough is rolled out and cut into circles, then filled with the potato, caramelized onion, and bacon mixture before being folded into half-moon shapes and boiled in salted water until cooked.

What Fillings Are Used?

The traditional vareniki recipe often uses potato as a filling. However, in Ukraine, vareniki can be made with a variety of fillings. Common savory options include potatoes, cottage or farm cheese (tvarog), sauerkraut, cabbage, potato and cheese, boiled beans, peas, meat, fish, and buckwheat.

This dish can also be enjoyed as a dessert. In this case, they are filled with fruit or soft cheese. Popular sweet fillings include sour cherries, blueberries, sweet cottage cheese, strawberries, raspberries, and plums.

Some recipes even include apples or other fruits. To enhance the flavor and texture, smetana (sour cream) can be added to the dough, making it lighter and more delicious.

What is The Difference Between Vareniki and Perogies?

Vareniki and pierogies are both types of dumplings, but they come from different countries. Vareniki are from Ukraine, and pierogies are from Poland.

They can have similar fillings like potatoes, cheese, meat, or fruit. However, vareniki often have fillings like sauerkraut, cherries, and sweet cheese more often than pierogies.

The names also come from their languages: “vareniki” from the Ukrainian word for “to boil,” and “pierogi” from the Polish word for “dumpling.” While they are very similar, vareniki are a big part of Ukrainian culture, and pierogies are important in Polish traditions.

How To Cook Vareniki?

Cooking vareniki is easy. Here’s how you can do it:

Ingredients:

• Prepared vareniki (filled and ready to cook)
• Salt
• Water

Instructions:

1. Boil Water:
   • Fill a large pot with water and add a pinch of salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
2. Cook Vareniki:
   • Carefully drop the prepared vareniki into the boiling water. Be sure not to overcrowd the pot; cook them in batches if necessary.
3. Stir Gently:
   • Gently stir the vareniki with a spoon to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
4. Cook Until Done:
   • Let the vareniki cook for about 3-5 minutes, or until they float to the top of the water. This means they are done.
5. Remove and Serve:
   • Use a slotted spoon to remove the vareniki from the pot. Place them on a plate to drain off any excess water.
6. Serve:
   • Serve the vareniki hot, with your favorite toppings like sour cream, melted butter, or fried onions.

How Do You Fold Vareniki?

Folding vareniki is easy once you get the hang of it. First, roll out your dough on a floured surface until it’s about 1/8 inch thick.

Use a glass or cookie cutter to cut out circles from the dough. Next, place a small spoonful of your filling (like mashed potatoes, caramelized onions, and bacon) in the center of each circle. Be careful not to overfill them.

Then, gently fold the dough circle in half to create a half-moon shape, covering the filling completely. Press the edges together with your fingers to seal the vareniki, making sure there are no gaps.

To make sure they’re well-sealed, you can crimp the edges with a fork by pressing the fork along the edges of the dough.

Finally, double-check that the edges are sealed properly so the filling doesn’t spill out when you cook them. Now your vareniki are ready to be boiled!

How Can You Serve Variniki?

Serving vareniki is simple and delicious. After boiling the vareniki until they float to the top, remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate.

You can enhance their flavor by adding toppings like a dollop of sour cream, a drizzle of melted butter, fried onions, or crispy bacon bits.

Make sure to serve while they are still warm for the best taste. For an extra touch of color and flavor, you can also garnish them with fresh herbs like dill or parsley. Enjoy your delicious vareniki with your favorite toppings and garnishes!

Tips

Making vareniki takes some time and a few helpful tips:

Roll the dough thinly: The dough shouldn’t be too thick, or the dish will turn out heavy and pasty. Using a pasta roller can help achieve an even, thin dough.

Cut the dough circles: You can use a wine glass to cut out the circles of dough. If you’re making a large batch, a dumpling or pelmeni machine can speed up the process and make it more efficient.

Don’t overfill: Be careful not to put too much-mashed potato filling in the center. Overfilling can make it hard to seal the vareniki and might cause them to open during cooking. It’s better to use a little less filling to ensure they stay sealed.