These thick cheese-filled varenyky are tossed in butter and served with a dollop of sour cream and lots of fresh dill. They are loved throughout Ukraine.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 The Cooking Foodie | 2022-03-10 14:00:02 |  46,330 Views |
Vareniki – Ukrainian Potato Dumplings
Serious Mealtimes / Larisa Niedle
For many Ukrainians including myself varenyky are a family and communal affair a meal synonymous with home. The thick tender dumplings are beloved and eaten throughout Ukraine with countless variations on the dough fillings and toppings. One of my earliest memories is of my family huddled around my grandparents’ small kitchen table making and eating varenyky in Mariupol while my grandmother taught my sisters and me how to fill and shape them. To this day sitting down to enjoy a bowl of varenyky reminds me of cooking and feasting on dumplings with my family in her busy chatty kitchen a tradition I keep alive here in the United States with my husband and sister.
“Varenyky” comes from the verb “varyty” which means “to boil.” Traditionally varenyky are crescent-shaped. Today many Ukrainian households also prepare triangular dumplings. Although varenyky are most often boiled they can also be steamed or baked depending on where you are in Ukraine. Savory varenyky filled with vegetables cheese or meat are served as the main course while sweet fruit-filled dumplings are reserved for dessert. In some parts of Western Ukraine varenyky are called pyrohy which comes from “pierogi” the Polish word for dumplings. (“Pierogi” comes from the Proto-Slavic word “pir” meaning feast.)
