Varenyky, Ukrainian Dumplings with filling are famous all over the world and known since ancient times. In traditional Ukrainian cuisine Varenyky was one of the most popular ethnic dish in Kyiv Rus.
The traditional Ukrainian dish Dumplings with poppy seed filling (Varenyky z makom, ukr.) is very special. It symbolises harmony as poppy seed (mak) symbolises men’s power and dumpling (varenyk) itself is a symbol of women’s power, childbirth.
Ukrainians used poppy seed (mak, ukr.) for cooking for centuries and associated it with stars in the space.
The word “Pyrogy” is the ancient Slavonic word “pirogъ” that is – formed from the word “pirъ” (“feast”) with the suffix -ogъ or from the word “руго” (“wheat”), the ancient slavic word “pыro” under the influence of the word “pirъ” (“feast”). The word “Varenyky” is from the word “varyty” (“to boil”).
Pyrogy (Pyrohy) or Varenyky is one of the 12 sacred dishes on traditional Christmas dinner that were formed in 8-9 centuries before the adoption of Christianity and were then inherited in Medieval Ukrainian cuisine.
Ukrainian traditional ethnic dish Varenyky can be with different fillings, vegetables, meat, cheese, berries, poppy seeds. There was no potato in Ukraine until it was brought from South America in XVI century, so varenyky with potato filling are not the ancient variant of dish. One of the most popular fillings of Ukrainian dumplings in was fresh cottage cheese and dill. See also traditional Ukrainian recipes from the the cooking blog of ethnic Slavic cuisine Etnocook: Varenyky (Pyrohy), Varenyky with cheese and vegetables filling (steamed), Varenyky with sauerkraut filling.
Varenyky is so important Ukrainian dish that there are monuments to them in Ukraine and all over the world in other places where Ukrainians lives.
In Ukraine was a tradition that the first dish in ancient times that mother ate after childbirth was Varenyky and people who cooked them wished her to have a lot of children and said “Be always full like varenyk”.
Sweet dumplings with poppy seed feeling
- take cold water for dough, then it will roll thinner and will be stronger
- poppy seeds can be soaked in hot milk for several hours - this will give a special soft taste
- chicken eggs can be replaced with quail eggs (1 chicken egg = 5 quail)
- cover the ready dough with a napkin so that it does not get too dry
- make dumplings quickly and cook immediately, because the dough can get rid of the filling and loose the shape
- put the filling in the refrigerator for an hour, then it will be easier to form dumplings (varenyky)
- if the dough is not very elastic, then roll it into a thicker layer and cook the dumplings on a small fire for a few minutes longer
Ingredients of the Ukrainian varenyky with poppy seed filling
- Dough
- white wheat flour - 500 g
- water - 200 ml
- butter - 50 g
- egg - 1
- salt - ~ 2 g, to taste
- sugar - ~ 2 g, to taste
- Filling
- poppy seeds - 300 g
- water - 550 ml
- sugar - ~ 200 g, to taste
- raisins - ~ 50 g, to taste
- Cooking
- water - 3 l
- salt - ~ 2 g, to taste
- Serving
- butter - ~ 100 g, to taste
- honey - ~ 50 g, to taste
- sour cream - ~ 50 g, to taste
Instructions:
1. Prepare all ingredients
Prepare all ingredients for the Ukrainian traditional dish Varenyky (Pyrohy) with poppy seeds (mak, ukr.). Make sure there is everything needed for dough and filling from the product list.
2. How to make dough for dumplings (Ukrainian Varenyky)
In warm water (2 tablespoons) mix salt and sugar (for dough). Sift flour, add cold water (1 glass, 200-250 ml), add water with salt and sugar, melted butter (can be replaced with vegetable oil). Mix well, if necessary, adding more flour until the dough becomes elastic and doesn't stick to your hands. Cover it with linen cloth and leave for half an hour. Then roll thin dough (1-2 mm).
3. How to cook poppy seeds filling for dumplings
Soak poppy seeds in hot water (500 ml) for 30 min. Separately soak raisins in hot watter (500 ml) for 30 min. Then drain water from poppy seeds, add sugar (or honey) and grind propely. Drain raisins, add to poppy seeds and mix.
4. Forms for Varenyky (Homemade dumpling wrappers)
From the rolled dough make rounds with the help of a special form or glass
5. How to make Ukrainian dumplings Varenyky
Put the filling by a small spoon in the middle of the rounds and press the edges. Varenyk (pyrih) has the form of a crescent.
6. How to cook Varenyky
Varenyky are boiled in small portions (10-15 dumplings) in a big amount of hot salted water (3-4 tbsp. of salt for 3 l of water). When the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low, put varenyky, boil for 1-2 minutes, and remove with a slotted spoon into a deep bowl, add butter or oil and mix.
7. How to serve Varenyky
Serve Ukrainian Poppyseed Varenyky (Pyrohy) warm, add honey or sour cream to taste.
