Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (2024)

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This sourdough pierogi recipe is the sourdough starter discard recipe you’ve been looking for! Making homemade pierogi is a fun cooking project and I’m sharing two filling for pierogi below: sweet potato kale cheese and potato and cheese.

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Pierogi are dumplings with a filling, very similar to ravioli. Don’t have a sourdough starter discard? Use the recipe for Pierogi Ruskie: potato – cheese pierogi from Spruce Eats which I used as a base before modifications here.

Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (2)

Pierogi are made by making a dough, then filling the dough/dumplings with fillings (sweet or savory) and then boiling them and then serving them with a little butter and fried onions, or pan frying them.

Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (3)

For those of you who don’t know, I grew up in Chicago which has a really large Polish cultural community. Growing up, I had some friends with Polish heritage, and I remember going to their houses and their moms would make homemade Pierogi for us to enjoy.

Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (4)

Homemade pierogi are so so good, especially fresh and homemade. But just like making any pasta from scratch, it’s not a 5 minute easy recipe (I mean the recipe is easy, but you make a dough, make filling(s), roll the dough, fill the dough and make dumplings, boil the dumplings and then enjoy!) It’s a labor of love, but there’s nothing quite like the amazing homemade taste, especially with these sourdough starter discard piergoi!

Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (5)

I’m new to the whole sourdough starter thing. When you’re first ‘growing’ your sourdough starter, you’re feeding it every 12 hrs, and you end up discarding a bunch, twice a day. Since it’s just flour and water and adds a nice airy texture as it matures, I didn’t want to waste it. I’ve been using the sourdough discard and making all sorts of recipes (like this incredible sourdough pizza crust recipe).

Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (6)

I made two different fillings because I followed a recipe that said you needed about 2 lbs of potatoes and I only had 1, but I had quite a bit of filling leftover, so please note that you probably only need 1-1.5 lbs of potatoes for filling, so you could make one or both, in smaller quantities. These pierogi make an amazing vegetarian dinner!

Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (7)

Tools that made making homemade pierogi easier:

  • For cutting the shapes, using a biscuit cutter made it so much easier (this is the set I have – I used one with a 2.25 inch diameter). You could also use a glass to cut a round shape.
  • For rolling out the dough, I used a small pastry roller (I use this all the time and it makes rolling dough so much easier I find)
  • Silicone baking mats (I use these all the time, made it easy for resting the pierogi before cooking them, and then after cooking I used them to freeze the pierogi)

Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (8)

I gave some to my in-laws to try, and they too loved them. My husband loved the potato and cheese filling, and I (and my in-laws) loved the sweet potato kale and cheese filling. Both pierogi fillings are super good (I literally ate the leftover filling straight out of the bowl!

Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (9)

Using sourdough starter discard to make this pierogi recipe is something I’ll continue doing with my discard, because it was such a fun and flavorful dinner. Have you ever made homemade pasta or pierogi before?

Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (10)

This sourdough pierogi recipe is the sourdough starter discard recipe you've been looking for! Making homemade pierogi is a fun cooking project and I'm sharing two filling for pierogi below: sweet potato kale cheese and potato and cheese

4.34 from 9 votes

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Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Additional Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 40 pierogi

Ingredients

For the fillings

  • 2 lbs potatoes I used 1 lb yellow potatoes and 1 lb sweet potato - which was 1 sweet potato
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 large onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese shredded
  • 4 oz marscarpone cheese use cream cheese if you don't have marscarpone
  • 1/4 cup kale finely chopped, optional, can use spinach instead

For the pierogi dough

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sourdough starter discard
  • 1/2 cup water lukewarm
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

To make the pierogi filling

  • Peel potatoes, cut into 2 inch pieces or large chunks

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and boil the potatoes until soft when pierced with a fork.

  • Drain water.

  • In a small frying pan, add 2 tablespoons butter and onion pieces, fry until slightly browned and caramelized (about 7 minutes).

  • In a bowl, place white potatoes and in another bowl sweet potatoes (or if using just one kind of potato or you want to mix them, add them in whatever bowl combinations.)

  • Mash the potatoes, leaving a little bit of potato pieces so they're not all smooth.

  • Either divide among the 2 bowls with potatoes or into the 1 bowl the onions, salt, parmesan and marscarpone cheese. Add greens to the sweet potatoes (or potatoes or leave out if not using).

To make the pierogi dough

  • Place flour in a large bowl, make a well in the center.

  • Crack the egg into the center.

  • Pour sourdough starter discard around the edges of the bowl on top of the dry flour, sprinkle salt over everything in the bowl, pour water around the egg.

  • Using hands (or a wooden spoon or a stand mixer with the dough attachment) mix contents of the bowl so that it all comes together, kneading everything until it turns into a dough.

  • You might need to add a little flour or water if the dough feels too wet or dry. This recipe had great step by step photos.

  • Divide the dough ball in half and place both halves in the bowl you just used for mixing and cover it with a kitchen towel (or some plastic wrap loosely draped over the bowl and let it rest 20 minutes.

  • If you have a very mature/active starter, you might see some bubbles in your dough.

  • I usually make the fillings when the dough is resting, see making filling step.

  • After the dough has rested, flour a surface (I just used a cutting board)

  • Roll out 1 of the dough balls. I use a

    small pastry roller, but a rolling pin would do the trick. Roll the dough very thin, then using a 2-inch round biscuit cutter or edge of glass, cut the dough into circles.

  • Put a little spoonful of filling in the middle of a dough circle, then fold/pinch the edges together.

  • Gather scraps, re-roll and fill. Repeat with remaining half of the dough until all dough is filled (I got about 40 pierogi).

  • Place finished pierogi on a lightly floured baking sheet or baking sheet with a silicone baking mat so it doesn't stick, and cover with a tea towel so they don't dry out.

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

  • Drop in about 6-8 pierogi at a time as to not crowd them. When pierogi rise to the surface, they are done cooking (just like with ravioli!)

  • Use a slotted spoon and taste test for doneness, when done, transfer to a lightly buttered plate so they don't stick.

  • Serve warm.

  • Can serve with fried onions, or serve pan fried.

  • You can freeze pierogi by allowing them to cool on a baking sheet and then freezing them on the baking sheet and then transferring them to a freezer safe container/bag. Good in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Notes

I used The Spruce Eats recipe for Pierogi Ruskie Potato-Cheese Pierogi and modified it slightly.

Nutritioninformation disclaimer: thenutritioninformation presented on this site should be considered an estimate as the calculations will change based on the exact products you use in your own kitchen.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 572mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g

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Sourdough Pierogi Recipe - Sweetphi (2024)

FAQs

Should you boil pierogies before frying? ›

However, it's not a must—you can also cook frozen pierogies right in the skillet without boiling them—and they will turn out delicious. But, if you're a stickler for tradition, bring a pot of salted water to a boil, drop the pierogies in and wait for them to float. It takes around 3 minutes.

Is pierogi dough the same as pasta dough? ›

DOUGH: Pierogie dough is different from pasta because it's softer and less dense, and will remain soft even after cooking. In order to get the right consistency, I do not recommend substitutions in the dough. While some recipes contain sour cream, this recipe is made without.

What makes pierogi dough tough? ›

I have found through my experimentation what made the dough tough was too much flour and too much kneading. At the time I was trying to ensure the dough was not sticky at all. So I kept adding flour and kept kneading. Even doing this I would feel the dough toughen before cooking.

Why is my pierogi dough hard to roll out? ›

Make sure you let the dough rest before rolling it out since that should help relax the gluten and make it more pliable. If your dough is still tough, it might need a little more water.

Is it better to cook perogies frozen or thawed? ›

Using freshly frozen homemade pierogies is perfect too. Or you can even let frozen ones thaw just a little bit. You want to make sure they are fully tossed or brushed with olive oil, covered in some salt, pepper and garlic.

Can you cook frozen pierogies without boiling them? ›

Place frozen perogies into frying pan and fry for approximately 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Then, turn perogies over and brown on other side for 3-4 minutes. Remove and serve with your choice of favourite toppings like sour cream, onions or bacon bits.

Are perogies Ukrainian or Polish? ›

Pierogi are Polish. They can be filled with meat, potatoes, sauerkraut, cheese, sour cherries, etc. Pelmeni are Russian (specifically Siberian) and they are filled with meat. “Pyrohy” are the Western Ukrainian analogue to Polish pierogi; they are also known as varenyky.

What is the best flour for pierogies? ›

Monika starts with boiling water and a specialty flour called Maka Puszysta, a very fine flour made just for pierogi dough. If you don't have a Polish grocery nearby, Monika suggests using extra fine flour (like Italian "00" flour used for pasta-making) as a substitute, as long as there are no additives.

What is a good side dish to have with perogies? ›

Here are some of the best side dishes to serve with pierogi:
  • Smoked sausages.
  • Crispy bacon crumbles.
  • Sautéed onions and mushrooms.
  • Crunchy vegetable salads.
  • Sour cream.
  • Mustard and horseradish blend.
  • Fruit compote.
  • Cinnamon sprinkles.
Aug 16, 2023

What store-bought dough can I use for pierogies? ›

Any 3- to 4-inch round ready-to-cook dough will work; wonton wrappers are a good option, but frozen (and thawed) empanada wrappers, which I've found at Kroger, are even better.

Why are my perogies mushy? ›

Raw pierogi dough has a shelf life of about 12 hours. After that, it will begin to discolor. In addition, if you leave a filled pierogi for too long without boiling it, the dough may begin to absorb liquid from the filling and become mushy. Once it's been boiled, it's completely stable.

Can you make pierogi dough ahead of time without? ›

Pierogi dough (aka pot sticker dough) can be started, rolled, filled, and cooked in one session. But you can space out the process. Make the dough ahead and store it in a zip-close bag in the fridge; it will keep a couple of days and could be used as the edible wrapper for pierogi, pot stickers, or both.

Is milk or water better for pierogi dough? ›

It's important to note there is a bit of a trade-off when it comes to substituting milk for water. Milk adds richness to the dough, but the fat and proteins in milk can make the dough somewhat sticky. Using water, on the other hand, results in a pliable dough that is easy to work with (via A Dumpling Thing).

What can you do with leftover pierogi dough? ›

Because Polish food is simple peasant food and based around making do with what you have and letting nothing (and I mean nothing) go to waste, my Babcia used to take leftover pierogi dough, roll it out super thin and cut it up into little rags to make fresh pasta.

How do you store unused pierogi dough? ›

You can freeze leftover pierogi dough, and it's the best you can do when you run out of filling. Form the remaining dough into a ball, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, and freeze. For added protection against freezer burn, you can place the wrapped ball into a freezer bag.

How do you crisp pierogies in a pan? ›

Prepare the Pierogi: In a frying pan, simply add a bit of butter or oil before arranging the pierogi in a single layer, making sure they don't overlap. Pan Fry the Pierogi: In the pan, fry the pierogi for 3-4 minutes on each side until they turn a golden brown and get crispy.

How do you keep perogies from sticking together after boiling? ›

Gently remove the perogies with a slotted spoon. Smear butter or margarine on to avoid sticking together. Serve immediately.

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