Varenyky hold a cherished place in Ukrainian culinary tradition, and what better time to savor these delights than during the sunny summer days? With the secrets to creating the perfect varenyky dough, you can indulge in these mouthwatering treats every day, experimenting with a delightful array of fruit fillings.
Perfect dough for varenyky
Let’s start with the heart of Ukrainian varenyky – the dough. Authentic Ukrainian varenyky are steamed, resulting in a light and fluffy texture when cooked right.
Ingredients:
- 650 g flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 chicken egg
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 500 ml kefir
Feel free to replace kefir with any sour milk product you have at home. The amount remains the same, half a liter.
Cooking:
Begin by mixing the flour, salt, and baking soda on your work surface. In a separate bowl, beat the egg with sugar until it’s smooth and creamy. Create a well in the flour pile and gradually incorporate the egg-sugar mixture and your chosen sour milk product.
Knead the dough thoroughly, then place it in a spacious container, covering it with a clean cloth towel. Let it rest for 20 minutes. Divide the dough into four portions, and shape each into a long sausage. Cut each sausage into individual rounds.
Roll out each round into a small circle using a rolling pin, ready to be filled with your favorite fruit fillings. Seal the edges well; otherwise, the filling might leak or fall out during cooking. We recommend using the steaming method when cooking varenyky with fruit fillings, as this will keep the dish airy and fluffy.
Variations of fruit fillings for varenyky
The beauty of varenyky lies in their versatility – you can fill them with a delightful assortment of fruits and berries, creating a symphony of flavors that will leave you wanting more. To ensure you get perfect fruit varenyky, we have prepared recipes for several delicious fillings rich with vitamins. By the way, if you love varenyky so much you can’t wait, we have the recipe for lazy varenyky with blackberries, raspberries, and wild strawberries.
Varenyky with raspberries
Varenyky are the tastiest when made with fully ripe raspberries. The only downside is that these ripe berries tend to fall apart and release juice upon slight pressure, making it difficult to seal the varenyky while preparing and cooking. Fear not; there’s a solution! Roll each berry in starch before putting the berries inside the dough to prevent this issue.
Ingredients:
- 350 g raspberries
- Sugar to taste
- 50 g starch
Cooking:
1. Roll each berry in starch, ensuring it’s well coated from all sides.
2. Place five or six starch-coated berries on a rolled-out dough.
3. Add sugar according to your preference, adjusting the sweetness.
4. Seal the edges of the varenyk, and you’re all set for delicious raspberry-filled dumplings!
Varenyky with blueberries
Usually, you won’t have any trouble sealing blueberry varenyky. However, if you encounter any issues, follow the same technique as the previous recipe and coat the berries in starch to avoid mishaps.
Ingredients:
- 350 g blueberries
- Sugar to taste
- 50 g starch
Cooking:
1. Coat each blueberry in flour, ensuring a smooth surface.
2. Place three to five berries on a rolled-out dough.
3. Add a little sugar, then seal the edges of the varenyk securely.
You can use the same method to make varenyky with currants. The berry’s skin is quite firm, so there is no need to coat currants in flour or starch. However, adding sugar is recommended as currants taste more sour, and the dish benefits from a touch of sweetness.
Varenyky with plums and apricots
This sweet filling is a wonderful combination of plums and apricots. Plums and apricots usually ripen at different times, so this recipe is more suitable for the winter period and those who have frozen the mentioned fruits. However, try this sweet filling if you can buy plums and apricots and combine them!
Ingredients:
- 200 g plums
- 200 gs apricots
- Sugar to taste
- 50 g starch
Cooking:
1. Pit plums and apricots, then cut them into small cubes.
2. Sprinkle the fruit mixture with sugar and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
3. After 20 minutes, start shaping the varenyky: fill them with the fruit-sugar mixture, being mindful not to scoop up the juice the fruits release during the resting period.
Varenyky with sour cherries
Sour cherry varenyky are among the favorite variations, thanks to their juicy and irresistible cherry filling!
Ingredients:
- 350 g pitted sour cherries
- Sugar – to taste
- 50 g starch
Cooking:
1. Place three to four pitted cherries on each dough circle.
2. Add a teaspoon of sugar to each varenyk with cherry filling, and then steam the varenyky to perfection.
Varenyky with strawberries
A special note for strawberry varenyky: they should be prepared exclusively by steaming (the dough will turn coarse otherwise) to achieve a fluffy texture.
Ingredients:
- 350 g strawberries
- Sugar to taste
- 50 g starch
Cooking:
1. Cut each strawberry into four pieces.
2. Cut out the dough circles and fill them with the strawberries, adjusting the amount based on their size. On average, you will need one and a half to two standard-sized berries for each varenyk.
3. Optionally, sprinkle sugar over the strawberries, then pinch the edges together to seal the delightful filling.
In conclusion, summer is the perfect season to indulge in the delightful Ukrainian tradition of varenyky, especially when filled with delicious berries and fruit fillings. You can enjoy light and fluffy varenyky daily if you master making the perfect dough. So, gather your favorite fruits and berries, roll up your sleeves, and embark on a culinary journey of pure delight. Embrace the vibrant flavors of summer with each bite of these delightful Ukrainian delicacies!
