Today we are going to cook varenyky (filled dumplings) with truly Ukrainian stuffing – cracklings with onion. We are sure that you will like the dish – it is juicy and rich. In addition, its recipe is rather simple.
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups of wheat flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2/3 glass of boiled water
Filling
- 100 g (3,5 oz) salt pork
- 1 bulb onion
- 2/3 tsp salt
- 700 g (1, 5lb) potato
- dairy butter/ sour cream (for serving)
Cracklings
- 150-200 g (5-7 oz) salo (pork fat)/bacon
- 1 bulb onion
Cooking
Sift 3 cups of flour. Put the flour in a big bowl and stir in eggs. Add salt and start kneading the dough. It should become homogenous.
Pour boiled water in a cup and let it cool to 50°C (122°F). Add the water to the dough gradually. Knead the dough with the help of a spoon continuously. Transfer the dough to a bowl and cover it with food wrap. Set it aside for half an hour.
Rinse potatoes, peel and boil them. Mash the potatoes. Dice salt pork finely. Fry it on a dry griddle till you get cracklings. Peel and cube an onion. Add it to the cracklings and brown slightly. Combine mashed potatoes, onion, and cracklings together. Mix everything properly. (Leave some amount of cracklings to serve them with the prepared varenyky).
Take the dough, add the remaining flour and knead it again. Cut a piece of the dough and roll it. Cut the dough, using a 3-inch round or glass. Place the filling in the center of each round. Fold the dough over to cover the mixture and form a half-circle. Crimp the edges using a fork until well sealed.
Bring water to boil. Add salt and bay leaf. Then add varenyky. Stir them carefully in order to prevent sticking. Boil the ingredients for 7 minutes until well puffed. Transfer the varenyky to a skimmer and let them drain.
To cook crackling you should cut salo (pork fat) or bacon into medium pieces and golden-fry it for 5-10 minutes. You may add some bulb onion for more juiciness if you wish.
Coat varenyky with melted dairy butter or sour cream. Top them with the prepared cracklings and serve.
Enjoy your meal!
