Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe That Tastes Like Christmas! (2024)

Although Polish sauerkraut pierogi recipe is being used all year round, it’s definitely getting popular during Christmas time. For many families, dumplings with sauerkraut are the most important dish on Christmas Eve’s table.

The main reason why is that it is vegetarian food. Traditionally, you are not supposed to eat meat on December, 24th.

Pierogi with sauerkraut and pierogi ruskie are two main dishes served during Wieczerza Wigilijna. Keep on reading to discover my grandma’s authentic sauerkraut pierogi recipe!

Tips For Cooking Pierogi With Sauerkraut

Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe That Tastes Like Christmas! (1)

1. Skip mushrooms if you don’t have (or don’t like) them.

Although adding dried mushrooms is the typical way of making the sauerkraut pierogi filling, you may easily skip them.

Eating mushrooms is not recommended for kids or people with digestive problems, so this ingredient is not necessary.

2. Be sure to cook sauerkraut pierogi in boiling hot water!

Otherwise, they will fall apart. Putting them in the cold water is the biggest mistake you can make.

3. When cooked, don’t put pierogi too close together.

After pierogi are cooked and ready, you can either:

  • put the butter on top of them and eat them
  • carefully put them one by one on a plate/cutting board

If they will be too close, they will stick together. Wait until they cool off, then put them into the bowl. Pour the melted butter on them, then shake gently. Now, they can be either stored in the fridge or freezer.

Best Add-ons For Pierogi With Sauerkraut

Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe That Tastes Like Christmas! (2)

Melted butter

As simple as that. It’s one of the most popular ways of having sauerkraut pierogi.

Fried onion

Pierogi taste delicious with carmelized or fried onion.

Skwarki (greaves)

It’s basically what’s left from making homemade lard.

Maggi seasoning sauce

Some people in Poland like having pierogi with the Maggi sauce.

How To Serve Sauerkraut Pierogi?

Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe That Tastes Like Christmas! (3)

Serve them right after cooking, when they are warm, with the add-ons of your choice.

Alternatively, you can fry them with butter until they are crispy, with the brownish color.

Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe

Yield: 8 servings

Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe

Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe That Tastes Like Christmas! (4)

Although Polish sauerkraut pierogi recipe is being used all year round, it's definitely getting popular during Christmas time. For many families, dumplings with sauerkraut are the most important dish on Christmas Eve's table.

The main reason why is that it is vegetarian food. Traditionally, you are not supposed to eat meat on December, 24th.

Ingredients

Dough for sauerkraut pierogi

  • 5 cups (600g) of all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1cups of warm water
  • 2 pinches of salt
  • 4-5 tablespoons of oil

Sauerkraut filling

  • 2 lbs of sauerkraut
  • 1 big or 2 small onions
  • 3 oz of dried mushrooms (optionally)
  • salt, pepper, oil

Instructions

How To Make Dough For Pierogi With Sauerkraut?

  1. Put flour, egg, oil, and salt into the bowl. Whisk it together with hand or dough hook attachment.
  2. Start adding the water slowly, letting it incorporate before adding more.
  3. Whisk until all the ingredients are incorporated and there are no lumps.

How To Make Sauerkraut Filling?

  1. If you decided to add dried mushrooms, wash them carefully, then cover them with cold water and leave for at least a few hours (ideally overnight).
  2. In the morning, drain the mushrooms and cook them until soft.
  3. Drain the sauerkraut by squeezing it carefully. Then chop it finely. Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe That Tastes Like Christmas! (5)
  4. Boil the sauerkraut in water until it's soft (it will take about 1 hour). Next, drain it again. Make sure there is no water left.
  5. In the meantime, finely chop an onion and mushrooms. Fry them with a bit of butter (or oil) on low heat, until they are soft.
  6. Mix all the ingredients for the filling together, season with salt and pepper.


How To Mold Sauerkraut Pierogi?

  1. Divide the dough into the 2 or 3 pieces.
  2. Thinly roll each piece out onto a floured surface to just under 1/16 - 1/8” thickness.
  3. Use a round cookie cutter to cut the circles from the dough.
  4. Put the sauerkraut filling in the center of each circle. The more filling, the better, however, you need to be sure it stays inside pierogi. When the filling will get between the dough when sealing, pierogi may fall apart during the cooking.
  5. Pull the edges of each circle together to form pierogi. Make sure the seal is continuous and intact. You can't leave any free space, as pierogi will fall apart during the cooking. Pinch tightly. Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe That Tastes Like Christmas! (6)
  6. Collect the remaining dough scraps and put them to the other 2 dough pieces. Repeat the process until the entire dough and all the filling is used.


How To Cook Pierogi With Sauerkraut?

  1. Pour the water into the big pot. Add 2 pinches of salt. Boil.
  2. Gently throw pierogi, one by one into the boiling water.
  3. When they start floating, wait for a minute and take them out with the slotted spoon.
  4. Pour the melted butter or lard on top.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 333Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 869mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 6gSugar: 3gProtein: 8g

These data are indicative and calculated by Nutritionix

See also my other recipes for pierogi!

  • pierogi with spinach
  • pierogi with meat
  • pierogi with strawberries
  • pierogi ruskie
  • pierogi with blueberries
  • pierogi with cherries
  • pierogi with sweet cheese
  • pierogi with poppy seeds

Pin For Later:

Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe That Tastes Like Christmas! (19)

Did you like this Polish pierogi with sauerkraut recipe? Let us know in the comments below!

13 Responses

  1. Sigh, I just know you are about to cringe and may not even answer, but I have a question to ask. If I were to purchase ready made dough from the local store, which would be closest to real pierogi dough? Pizza dough, pie crust dough or even wonton ready made rounds?
    Thank you for even considering this.

    Laney

    Reply

    1. None would be the real pierogi dough but wonton ready made rounds would be the closest.

      Reply

  2. 1 egg to 5 cups of flour? Isn’t that too few?

    Reply

    1. In fact, you don’t have to add egg at all, it’s optional 🙂

      Reply

  3. My Momma used to make chicken soup with chicken feet. Do you have a recipe for that .

    Reply

    1. I do!
      Here it is. You may add chicken feet as well:
      https://polishfoodies.com/polish-chicken-soup-rosol-recipe/

      Reply

  4. I haven’t made your dough yet but I am wondering if it can be rolled out in a pasta roller attachment for my stand mixer or if it would be too sticky for that?

    Reply

    1. You can use the pasta roller, the pierogi dough is not sticky.

      Reply

  5. For my dough recipe I use 2/3 cup warm water, 1 room temp egg, 3 cups flour, 1/4 cup sour cream, 3/4 teaspoon salt. Throw it in your bread machine if you have one and put it on dough setting. I’ve been making pierogi for about 50 years now and this dough recipe is very good.

    Reply

  6. A tip for freezing pierogi is place them one layer on a baking pan and freeze for about a half hour. Then you can just put them in a ziplock bag and throw in the freezer. They won’t stick to each other. Also, I never cook my sauerkraut. I tried following a recipe last year and did boil the sauerkraut. Came out flavorless. I like the tartness of sauerkraut. I also add sauteed onions and a bit of sour cream to the filling. Important to drain and rinse the sauerkraut well, and then squeeze the water out really hard. I also mince the sauerkraut. I’ve been making them for 50 years, learning from my mother that made the best pierogi in the world.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your comment! I freeze pierogi the same way.
      When it comes to the filling, that depends how sour is your sauerkraut. Kapusta kiszona in Poland is usually really sour and salty, so you need to cook it first.

      Reply

  7. I remember having pierogi with the potato and sauerkraut mixed together. Arter cooking them they were browned in butter. How much sauerkraut can I add to

    Reply

    1. That’s not a traditional way of making pierogi- it’s either sauerkraut or potato. If you want to mix it, I will make it 50/50.

      Reply

Authentic Polish Sauerkraut Pierogi Recipe That Tastes Like Christmas! (2024)

FAQs

What is a pierogi in Polish Christmas traditions? ›

Poland's Christmas Eve/Wigilia tradition wouldn't be complete without the world-famous pierogi! The half-circular Polish dumplings make an appearance on Wigilia tables in every Polish household and for many, they are the favorite of the 12 courses served during the traditional dinner.

What is the most popular pierogi in Poland? ›

Ruskie pierogi are probably the most popular kind of pierogi in North America and Poland. The other popular pierogi in Poland are filled with ground meat, mushrooms and cabbage, or for dessert an assortment of fruits (berries, with strawberries or blueberries the most common).

Does Mrs. T make sauerkraut pierogies? ›

It doesn't get more traditional than this — savory sauerkraut and creamy whipped potatoes folded in a pasta pocket. Top Mrs. T's Traditional Sauerkraut Pierogies with Swiss, pastrami, sauerkraut and Russian dressing for Tangy Reuben Pierogies!

How to make pierogies taste good? ›

In a large NON-STICK fry pan, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add onion and drained pierogies and season to taste with salt and pepper or House Seasoning. Cook over high heat until the onion is soft and browned and pierogies are nicely browned. The pasta shell will get a little crunchy - it's delish!

What is the traditional Polish meal for Christmas? ›

Some specific dishes may differ from various regions, but many of them are universal.
  • Christmas Eve red barszcz with porcini raviolis ('uszka') ...
  • Christmas Eve carp. ...
  • Herring. ...
  • Pierogi. ...
  • Cabbage rolls ('gołąbki') ...
  • 'Kutia' ...
  • Old Polish 'piernik' ...
  • Poppyseed cake ('makowiec')
Dec 12, 2013

What is traditional Polish Christmas food? ›

Wigilia menu reflects the season. Most families would serve all 12 of the traditional dishes, Bartoszek said. His family plans to serve red borscht with mushroom dumplings, cabbage with mushrooms, carp, mushroom and cabbage pierogi, herring, and mushroom soup, Bartoszek said. The dishes can vary from family to family.

What is the difference between Polish and Ukrainian perogies? ›

Varenyky is the more commonly used term in Ukraine, often eaten with sweet fillings, while pierogi are the national dish of Poland. Different to pelmeni as they are usually vegetarian, varenyky and pierogi can be served fried in butter, usually as an appetiser or a dessert.

Do Polish people fry pierogies? ›

The pierogi are simmered until they float, drained, and then sometimes fried or baked in butter before serving or fried as leftovers. They can be served with melted butter or sour cream, or garnished with small pieces of fried bacon, onions, and mushrooms.

Is sauerkraut a German or Polish dish? ›

Although it is considered a national dish in Germany and is known under its German name in English-speaking countries, it did not originate in Germany and is also a traditional and ubiquitous dish in Central and Eastern Europe.

Should you boil frozen pierogies before frying? ›

T's Pierogies. If you have the time, boil the frozen pierogies first, to get the pasta perfect for sautéing. However, it's not a must—you can also cook frozen pierogies right in the skillet without boiling them—and they will turn out delicious.

What's the difference between German sauerkraut and regular sauerkraut? ›

In Poland, the typical kraut gets made with shredded cabbage and shredded carrots. Another variety uses beets with the cabbage. This also gives it a very cool color as well I might add. In Germany, caraway seeds and juniper berries often get added to cooked sauerkraut.

Are perogies better boiled or sauteed? ›

Boiling Pierogi is the most popular method of cooking Pierogi because it adds no additional calories to your meal. It also offers a soft, delicate texture which is the more traditional way of eating Polish pierogi.

How should I season my pierogies? ›

Using freshly frozen homemade pierogies is perfect too. Or you can even let frozen ones thaw just a little bit. You want to make sure they are fully tossed or brushed with olive oil, covered in some salt, pepper and garlic.

What is the most popular Christmas tradition in Poland? ›

Christmas Eve Dinner – kolacja wigilijna – is the most important Christmas celebration in Poland. Christmas Eve Dinner starts in the late afternoon or in the evening, depending on the family (some people visit 2 or even more families during Christmas Eve, having 2 or more dinners).

What is pierogi Poland? ›

Pierogi are Eastern European stuffed dumplings that are usually boiled. As with many traditional foods, there are regional varieties with fillings ranging from sweet to savoury, meat to meatless. This potato and cheese-filled Pierogi recipe I'm sharing today is a meatless kind popular in Poland.

Why is pierogi the national dish of Poland? ›

The first recorded evidence of the word dates back to the 17th century, but the dish likely made its way to Polish territories much earlier. According to legend, the 13th-century Saint Jacek Odrowąż introduced pierogi to the nation, when he fed dumplings to the poor in Kraków following the Tatar invasion.

What does pierogi mean in Polish? ›

pierogi, one or more dumplings of Polish origin, made of unleavened dough filled with meat, vegetables, or fruit and boiled or fried or both. In Polish pierogi is the plural form of pieróg (“dumpling”), but in English the word pierogi is usually treated as either singular or plural.

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