Pirog (Russian Savory Pie)

🧂 Ingredients

• 800 g Yeast dough(Store-bought or homemade. Ensure it has completed its first rise.)
• 600 g Savory Filling(Choose from cooked cabbage, seasoned ground meat (beef, pork, or chicken), or flaked cooked fish. Ensure filling is cooled before use.)
• 1 large egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water or milk Egg wash(For glazing the crust.)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Yeast Dough: If making from scratch, follow your preferred yeast dough recipe. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 1.5 hours. If using store-bought dough, ensure it's at room temperature and has completed its initial rise.

   ⏱️ 1.5 hours (for rising)
2. 2

   Prepare the Filling: While the dough rises, prepare your chosen savory filling. For example, sauté finely chopped cabbage with onions until tender, or cook and season ground meat. Ensure the filling is completely cooled before assembling the pirog. This prevents the dough from becoming soggy and helps it bake evenly.

   ⏱️ 30 minutes
3. 3

   Assemble the Pirog: Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Divide the risen dough into two portions, one slightly larger than the other (about 2/3 for the base and 1/3 for the top). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the larger portion into a circle or rectangle large enough to line your baking dish or cover your baking sheet, leaving a slight overhang. Carefully transfer the dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet or into a greased baking dish. Spread the cooled filling evenly over the dough base, leaving a small border around the edges. Roll out the smaller portion of dough for the top crust. Place it over the filling. Trim any excess dough and crimp the edges of the top and bottom crusts together to seal securely. You can create decorative patterns or vents on the top crust if desired.

   ⏱️ 20 minutes
4. 4

   Bake the Pirog: Brush the entire surface of the pirog with the prepared egg wash. This will give it a beautiful golden-brown sheen. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until the crust is deeply golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. If the crust starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.

   ⏱️ 40-50 minutes
5. 5

   Rest and Serve: Once baked, remove the pirog from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing. This allows the filling to set and makes it easier to cut. Serve warm.

   ⏱️ 15-20 minutes (resting)

💡 Pro Tips

• ✓This recipe is for a large pirog. For smaller individual pies (pirozhki), adjust baking time accordingly.
• ✓The versatility of fillings is key to pirog. Experiment with different combinations of vegetables, meats, and fish.
• ✓Traditionally, a large pirog is often cut at the table, adding to the celebratory feel.

🔄 Variations

• Cabbage Filling: Finely shredded cabbage sautéed with onions, carrots, and herbs.
• Fish Filling: Flaked cooked salmon, cod, or other white fish mixed with rice, herbs, and sometimes hard-boiled eggs.
• Meat Filling: Ground beef, pork, or chicken sautéed with onions and seasoned with salt, pepper, and dill.

🥗 Nutrition

Per serving