Pierogi is a sort of dumpling type cuisine that comes from Central and Eastern Europe. This dish may seem easy to make, but it requires a certain degree of finesse and cooking skill to pull of perfectly. And in this article, we’ll break down how you can quickly cook Pierogis in simple steps. So, even if this is your first time, you’ll know how to cook Pierogis without any problems. SO, let’s dive in, shall we?

Also here is a Wiki page on pierogis.

Step-1: Choosing the Form of Pierogi

There are two forms of Pierogi that you can choose from. You can either go with frozen-premade packet pierogis or fresh pierogis.

Frozen pierogis can be found in general goods store, or you can store them yourself by making them by yourself beforehand. Most of the time, they last for two or three weeks. But check the expiry date on the back to be sure. It would be best if you boiled them before you start cooking them correctly.

The other option is to have fresh pierogis. This the most optimal choice if you want a new and fresh vibe into your food.  This type of pierogis is precooked and should be used in one or two days after keeping frozen. It would help if you warmed them up a little before cooking.

Photo by: Jessica Lock

Step-2: Boiling Your Pierogi

For most cases, if you are using fresh Pierogi, you can skip this step, but this is a must-stop for you if you are going with frozen pierogis. Because they have been frozen for quite a long time, it is necessary to get that settled status off before going with a final cooking process.

Boiling Frozen Pierogi

It is necessary to look into the pack your Pierogi comes in for boiling instructions as there are different types of boiling procedures depending on the Pierogi components. If you can’t find any instructions, you can go with the standard boiling process.

For the standard boiling process, mix water with salt and keep it to a boil. Then add your frozen Pierogi. A quick thing to remember is that you need to let your Pierogi set in with the room temperature. Don’t just dump your entire packet from the boiled water straight from the freezer.

After dropping the Pierogi in the boiled saltwater, wait for the pierogis to float up. At this point, reduce the heat to and simmer for 4 minutes straight. If there are vital components like meat in the pierogis, you need to boil them for a minute or two more. And you are done. 

You can serve the Pierogi as it is, but we recommend cooking them next.

Boiling Fresh Pierogi

The process is almost the same for the fresh Pierogi,  but the time left to boil is less as they already cooked. You should keep the Pierogi 3 minutes to the boil at best.

Microwaving Pierogi

Some people out there tend to use the microwave to boil or prepare the Pierogi for cooking. Try to avoid this as this is not recommended and will underwhelm your Pierogi, and you’ll be left with a horrible batch of Pierogi.

Step-3: Cooking Pierogi

There are many options of cooking for you to choose from when it comes to cooking your Pierogi after boiling them. Here are a few suggestions:

Sautéed or Pan-Fried Pierogi

If you want to have a crisp flavour to your Pierogi, sautéing or pan-frying is your best option, and it is the most exquisite form of Pierogi.

Start with lightly greasing your frying pan with oil or butter. If you are going with butter, remember that it gets heated up quickly, and you need to react with that heat. If you will have any toppings like onions, portions of bacon, or salsa, it is good to add them to the pan.

Now add the boiled Pierogi into the mix. Make sure that the pierogis aren’t getting stuck with the pan or getting burned. Use your spatula to move them around until the heat fries your Pierogi and gives off a golden-brown texture.

Steamed Pierogi

Steaming your Pierogi is one of the simplest yet easy to mess up. Get your water steamy and hot, and then add your Pierogi to the steaming basket. Keep the heat to a medium and wait for around 8 to 10 minutes and you’ll have perfectly steamed Pierogi.

Oven-Baked Pierogi

At first, pre-heat your oven at 356 F or 180 degree Celsius. Meanwhile, put your pierogis into the baking tray. Ensure the tray is oiled or buttered lightly and brush the pierogis the same but brush them lightly. 

Now cover the Pierogi with aluminium foil and bake for 20 mins. Around 10 mins you should turn them around so that the pierogis get baked evenly.

Grilled Pierogi

Start by brushing the Pierogi with oil or butter on both sides. It would help if you also seasoned them during this process. It is mostly salt and pepper for seasoning, but you can add special herbs & spice regarding your preference.

Now put the Pierogi straight into the grill. You have to grill them for 10-12 minutes while constantly turning them frequently until you see that red goldish texture on your pierogis.

Deep-Fried Pierogi

This one of the unique ways to cook Pierogi as it mixes the European flavour with western. First, begin with heating a pot of oil to 356°F or 180°C. Once heated, carefully drop the pierogis one by one. Don’t try to cluster the pot by adding too many at once. Be patient and add in contrast with your pot’s wide and length. 

Make sure they are evenly fried. Once the pierogis get to a golden colour and float over the oil, carefully take them out and drench away the fat.

Photo by: Alla Razgonova

Step-4: Toppings

Depending on your type of pierogis, your toppings may differ. For savoury variety, you can have different kind of sauces with meat and vegetable options. And if you are going with sweet, then having chocolate sauce or similar toppings are preferred.

Cooking pierogis for the first time can seem challenging, and yes, you can mess everything up pretty bad. But if you follow our given steps, then you will be able to have perfectly cooked pierogis.

So, now that you know how to cook pierogis stop waiting and start making some delicious pierogis for your friends and family. Let’s get started on the how to cook pierogis shall we?

You can also read about how to cook polish sausage.