Vareniki
Russian Dumplings
Vareniki are traditional Russian stuffed dumplings, offering a delightful culinary experience with either sweet or savory fillings. This recipe provides a foundational dough and guidance for creating these versatile pockets of flavor.
🧂 Ingredients
- 400 g All-purpose flour(Plus extra for dusting)
- 2 Large eggs
- 100 ml Water(Lukewarm)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 400 g Filling(Choose one: mashed potato with fried onions, sweet tvorog (farmer's cheese) with sugar, or pitted cherries (sweetened if desired). Ensure fillings are at room temperature or slightly chilled.)
- for serving Sour cream(Optional, but highly recommended)
- for serving Butter(Optional, for tossing cooked vareniki)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and crack in the two eggs. Gradually add the lukewarm water while mixing with a fork or your hands until a shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky. Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour. This resting period allows the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to roll.
⏱️ 10 minutes active + 30-60 minutes resting - 2
Roll and Cut the Dough: Divide the rested dough into two or three portions for easier handling. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of dough very thinly, about 1-2 mm thick. Use a round cutter (about 7-8 cm or 3 inches in diameter) to cut out circles. Gather the scraps, re-knead briefly, and roll out again to cut more circles. Repeat with the remaining dough portions.
⏱️ 20-25 minutes - 3
Fill and Seal the Vareniki: Place about 1-2 teaspoons of your chosen filling in the center of each dough circle. Be careful not to overfill, as this can make sealing difficult. Moisten the edge of half the circle with a little water using your finger. Fold the dough circle in half, enclosing the filling, and press the edges firmly together to seal, ensuring no air pockets remain. You can crimp the edges with a fork for extra security and a decorative finish. Place the formed vareniki on a lightly floured tray, ensuring they don't touch each other, and cover them with a clean kitchen towel to prevent drying while you work on the rest.
⏱️ 25-30 minutes - 4
Cook the Vareniki: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Carefully add the vareniki to the boiling water in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Stir gently to prevent them from sticking to the bottom. Once the vareniki float to the surface, continue to boil for another 3-5 minutes, or until the dough is cooked through and tender. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your dough and the size of the vareniki. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked vareniki from the water. For a richer flavor, you can toss them gently with a little melted butter immediately after draining. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream.
⏱️ 15-20 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Experiment with various fillings: popular choices include mashed potatoes with sautéed onions, farmer's cheese (tvorog) mixed with sugar and perhaps a hint of vanilla, or sweet berries like cherries or blueberries. Ensure fillings are not too wet.
- ✓Vareniki can be prepared ahead of time and frozen. Place them in a single layer on a floured baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Cook from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the boiling time.
- ✓For a savory variation, consider fillings like sauerkraut, mushrooms, or even meat. Serve savory vareniki with a dollop of sour cream or a drizzle of browned butter and fried onions.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Sweet Cherry Vareniki: Use sweetened pitted cherries as filling. Serve with sour cream and a dusting of powdered sugar.
- Potato and Onion Vareniki: Mash boiled potatoes with sautéed onions and season with salt and pepper. Serve with sour cream and fried onions.
- Tvorog (Farmer's Cheese) Vareniki: Mix tvorog with sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Serve with sour cream and jam or fresh berries.