Vareniki, summer 2026
My son is visiting us this weekend, so my daughter and I are making one of his favorite Ukrainian dishes for dinner—vareniki (Ukrainian dumplings, in Poland- pierogis)—with three different fillings.
Potato: mashed potatoes with caramelized onions and fresh dill. After boiling, I’ll lightly pan-fry them in duck fat and serve them with sautéed mushrooms and crispy duck skin.
Cottage cheese: cottage cheese with fresh dill and a touch of garlic powder. After boiling, I’ll lightly fry them in duck fat and serve them with sour cream, melted butter, and fresh dill.
Sour cherry: filled with fresh sour cherries and a little orange zest. They’ll be topped with a homemade cherry syrup made from the cherry juices. I added cornstarch to the cherries and also (cornstarch with some cold water) to the sauceBest dough recipe for Vareniki, I use it all the time: 4 cups flour; 2 tsp salt, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, 3/4 cup warm water.
