- MEAT FILLING FOR POLISH DUMPLINGS:
1/4 pound (93 percent lean) ground beef
1/4 pound ground pork
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
1 large egg white , lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch ground black pepper
Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl until uniformly combined. Use right away to fill pierogi or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed, but no longer than 2 days.
mushroom FILLING FOR POLISH DUMPLINGS:
Rather than cooking onions separately for the filling, we incorporate some of the caramelized onions used to garnish the dumplings.
12 ounces white mushrooms , wiped clean and quartered
3 medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms , rinsed and minced
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley leaves
1. Pulse the white mushrooms in a food processor until finely chopped, about 15 pulses; transfer to a bowl and set aside. Melt the butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the processed mushrooms, porcini mushrooms , and 1/4 teaspoon saltCover, turn the heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are wet and wilted, about 7 minutes.
2. Uncover, increase the heat to medium-high heat, and continue to cook until the mushroom liquid has evaporated and the mixture clumps and is starting to brown, about 7 minutes.
3. Add the reserved chopped caramelized onionsStir in the sour cream and cook until the mixture is sticky and cohesive but not wet, about 30 seconds. Transfer the mixture to a bowl; cool slightly. Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste before filling the pierogi or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed, but no longer than 2 days.
potato AND cheese FILLING FOR POLISH DUMPLINGS:
1 cup, enough to fill
32 to 34 dumplings.
While we prefer the flavor and texture of farmer's cheese here, an equal amount of ricotta cheese can be substituted. Use either a food mill or a ricer to process the cooked potatoes for the filling; do not use a food processor or the filling will have a gummy texture. Rather than cooking onions separately for the filling, we incorporate some of the caramelized onions used to garnish the dumplings.
1 medium russet potato (about 9 ounces), peeled and sliced
3/4 inch thick
salt
1/4 cup reserved chopped caramelized onions (see step 3 of Polish Dumplings, related)
1 1/2 ounces cheddar cheese , shredded (about 1/3 cup)
1 1/2 ounces farmers cheese (about 1/4 cup) (see note)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cover the potatoes by 1 inch of water in a large saucepan and add 1 tablespoon saltBring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender and a fork can be slipped easily into the center, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain the potatoes into a colander.
2. Set a food mill or ricer over a medium bowl and process the potatoes into the bowl. Add the caramelized onionsStir in the cheeses and butter until incorporated and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cool slightly before filling the pierogi or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed, but no longer than 2 days.