A Time for Pirogi
Russian Life|January/February 2021
Food & Drink
MARINA PUSTILNIK
A Time for Pirogi

The first few times I came across a recipe for pierogi on American recipe websites, I was surprised to discover what the Russians call vareniki in the place of actual pirogi, or pies. If this was a case Imperial Culinary Snobbery (as in, me believing that anything that sounds Russian must refer to an actual Russian dish), it was totally unconscious, and I’m sorry for it.

Anyway, January – and the winter months in general – are a great time to master the hearty Russian recipes for all kinds of pirogi. So here we come, with a round-up of three at once! The filling I have used for these recipes is classic stewed cabbage, but there are obviously a variety of traditional fillings you can use. I love a hard-boiled egg and chives filling, or some minced meat with onions, or fish and rice, and you can experiment with those, especially since you’ll have plenty of different doughs to try out.

All that said, today’s recipe is for stewed cabbage – and for three kinds of pirogi. One is fried pirozhki, made from a kefir-based dough, the second is a classic yeast-dough, kulebyaka, and the third is made with a short pastry of sorts, taken from the 1961 book for young housewives that was gifted to my mother 45 years ago by her mother-in-law.

Here we go.

To make a filling, you will need a small head of cabbage, a medium carrot, and a medium onion. You will also need something like a Dutch oven with a lid that you can close tightly.

Denne historien er fra January/February 2021-utgaven av Russian Life.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January/February 2021-utgaven av Russian Life.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA RUSSIAN LIFESe alt
Sidewalk Art
Russian Life

Sidewalk Art

The lamentable state of Russia’s roads and sidewalks has long been fertile ground for memes and jokes. Irkutsk artist Ivan Kravchenko decided to turn the problem into an art project. For over two years he has been patching ruts in city sidewalks with colorful ceramic tiles.

time-read
6 mins  |
March/April 2021
Sputnik V: First Place or Long Shot?
Russian Life

Sputnik V: First Place or Long Shot?

The Russian vaccine seems top-notch, but low public trust and a botched rollout remain formidable barriers to returning to normalcy.

time-read
5 mins  |
March/April 2021
Russian Life

the Valley of the Dead

On the Trail of a Russian Movie Star

time-read
10+ mins  |
March/April 2021
Food & Drink
Russian Life

Food & Drink

Food & Drink

time-read
4 mins  |
March/April 2021
Russian Life

POLAR YOUTH

Misha Smirnov has the day off. There are the traditional eggs for breakfast and the usual darkness out the window.

time-read
9 mins  |
March/April 2021
Russian Chronicles
Russian Life

Russian Chronicles

Russian Chronicles

time-read
10+ mins  |
March/April 2021
Russian Life

A People on the Brink

Over the past century, the ancient people known as the Votes has been exiled twice, has seen its language banned, and has faced the threat of having its villages razed. Today, although teetering on the verge of extinction, it holds fast to one of the last rights it enjoys – the right to bear and to say its own name.

time-read
10+ mins  |
March/April 2021
Tenders of the Vine
Russian Life

Tenders of the Vine

Visiting Russia’s Nascent Wine Region

time-read
10+ mins  |
January/February 2021
Restoring the Future
Russian Life

Restoring the Future

A Small Town Gets a Makeover

time-read
10+ mins  |
January/February 2021
Ascending Anik
Russian Life

Ascending Anik

Here I stand, on the summit of Anik Mountain, drenched to the bone amid zero visibility, driving rain, and a fierce wind.

time-read
10+ mins  |
January/February 2021