Vareniky, a stuffed dumpling with its origins somewhere in the dim past, circa 500BC, are the heart and soul of Ukrainian cuisine. There are in Ukraine, restaurants called "varenikiskas" that serve nothing but a wide and plentiful variety of vareniky. This traditional Ukrianian food has been claimed by Russia, is more commonly known by its Polish name, "pirogies" and as defined item in almost all Slavic cuisines. The earliest mention of these delectable delights is found in caravan jounals dating back to the Roman times. The Scythians & Circassians made & ate these wonderful taste treats as is documented in numerous wrings about them. We know also that the Khazars also made & ate these tasty treats. The expertise of making the dough was brought from China by the caravan traders of old "Silk Road" as they travelled to what is today Istanbul, Turkey. They passed across southern Ukraine on one of the legs of the northern route of the Silk Road.
All vareniky start with a basic dough that is akin to lasagne noodles but yet different. Some make their vareniky with just water as the liquid but the best ones use mineral water with gas (carbonation). Once the dough is rolled out to a thickness of about 1/16" to 1/8" it is cut into circles approximately 2 1/2"-3" in diameter. A small amount of the stuffing is them placed on to the center of the dough circle. The edges are folded over, pressed together usually with a fork to seal them. These neat little packets are then dropped into boiling water a few at a time. They simmer until the float to the top which indicates that they are done. Then they are removed, drained & the remaining vareniky are cooked.
Depending upon the type of stuffing these may served as an entree, an appetizer or a dessert. These stuffings cover a wide range of ingredients. Traditionally the most common are those stuffed with mashed potatoes with carmelized onions, mashed potatoes with cheese, cheese ( tvorog), shredded cabbage, sauerkraut (kapusta), cabbge fried with bits of pork and onion or cabbage with bits of chicken and onion. The tastiest may contain minced mushrooms with onion, cheese with ham or even fish with onions and dill. Dessert vareniky contain fruits, cheese, preserves, jams & other sweet items.
Sometimes vareniky are added to soups just as they are served. Traditionally & customarily vareniky are served slathered with butter if they contain vegetable filling, If they contain meat or fruit then it is sour cream that is used to slather them. No matter what kind you eat they are good! It is now possible to buy these tasty delights frozen in supermarkets but in the US and Canada they will be called by their Polish name, pirogies.
