Polish Pierogi History

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While Pierogi are a traditional Polish side dish, over the years they have grown in popularity within eastern European countries, as well as here in the United States. Pierogi are typically prepared as dumplings, stuffed with various ingredients from potatoes to sauerkraut. The outer-shell of the Pierogi is made from an unleavened dough, meaning lightly foamed and softened. In preparation for the cooking of the Pierogi , Idaho potatoes, eggs, 2% milk, flour, sour cream, onions and a three cheese mix, were all purchased from a local D&W grocery store.
Preparation of the Pierogi breaks down in to three phases and begins with the making of the dough, which consisted of; one large egg, two tablespoons of sour cream, one bag of shredded cheddar …show more content…

Looking at the ingredients of a dish tells more than just whats inside, it also tells a story of history, giving a glance at the past culture of where the dish originated from and what type of food was available within that area. The ingredients used in a traditional pierogi share an interesting look at the past availability of food within Poland. The creation of Sauerkraut, one of the primary filling ingredients, is believed to have originated in China during the building of the Great wall and brought to eastern Europe many years later. Others have argued that the origin of sauerkraut actually resides in Germany, a neighboring country to Poland, it is still left undecided. What is known is that there was, and still is, a huge popularity for the use of sauerkraut as an ingredient for many dishes within the area of eastern European countries due to the availability of cabbage used to make it. Force-meat, a mixture of meat or vegetables chopped and seasoned for use, allows for the additional flavor and offers a source of protein. The types of meat used in force-meat vary, but pork and game meats, such as rabbit and venison, are the most popular. The final ingredient, mushrooms, are used primarily for their unique taste and aroma. The gathering of mushrooms, known as mushroom hunting, is a well known tradition for many Slavic nations, including Poland. The use of mushrooms within pierogi can be explained both by the popularity for the flavor they offer, but also due to the easy access many polish would have had due to mushrooms growing locally in the

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