Vareniki

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Varenyks

Varenyks (or vareniki, Ukrainian and Russian: варе́ник[и]) are a kind of stuffed dumpling associated with Ukrainian cuisine, however, variants are also found in Belarusian, Russian and Polish cooking, and are sometimes said to be of Turkish origin.^[1] Varenyky are similar to Polish pierogi, Siberian pelmeni, and Italian ravioli.

1 Description
2 Monumental varenyky
3 References
4 External link
5 See also

[edit] Description

Varenyky are square- or crescent-shaped dumplings of unleavened dough, stuffed with sauerkraut, cheese, mashed potatoes, cabbage, meat, hard-boiled eggs (a Mennonite tradition) or a combination of these, or with a fruit filling. Varenyky are very popular in Ukraine and Russia as a quickly-prepared dish.

During preparation, the filling is wrapped with dough, boiled for several minutes, and then covered with cooking oil. The name varenyk, in fact, simply means "boiled thing," from the adjective varenyy. Varenyky are typically topped with fried bacon bits (shkvarky) and onions and accompanied with sour cream (kvasna smetana). Left-overs varenyky may be fried. Sweet, fruit-filled varenyky are served with sour cream and sugar. Raw varenyky (with the dough uncooked) can be stored frozen, then cooked in three minutes, which makes them a convenience food.

Other preparation methods include the Latvian tradition of glazing with egg white, baking, and serving with soup; the Mennonite tradition of baking and serving with borscht; and the Polish tradition of boiling, frying in butter, and topping with bread crumbs.

[edit] Monumental varenyky

A giant varenyk ("perogy") was erected in Glendon, Alberta, Canada, in 1991.[1] A monument to varenyky was opened in Cherkasy, Ukraine in September 2006^[2].