Potato Varenyky: Ukrainian Mashed Potato Dumplings
These classic Ukrainian varenyky are filled with creamy mashed potatoes and sweet golden onions, wrapped in soft, tender dough. Whether served with sour cream, crispy bacon, or more caramelized onions, they’re the ultimate comfort food — simple, nostalgic, and made to share.
Ingredients
- 600 g all-purpose flour
- 350 ml boiling water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 5 tbsp vegetable oil
For the filling:
- 800 g mashed potatoes preferably from the day before
- 2 onions
- vegetable oil (for frying)
- salt (to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
Instructions
Prepare the potato filling:
- Finely chop the onions and sauté in vegetable oil until golden brown.
- Mix the mashed potatoes with the fried onions, season with salt and pepper, and stir until well combined.
Prepare the dough:
- Sift the flour into a large bowl. Add salt and mix.
- Pour in the boiling water, mix with a spoon, then add the oil. Stir first with a spoon until it cools slightly, then knead by hand. Knead for a few minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes).
- Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 20 minutes.
Shape the dumplings:
- Lightly flour the surface, divide the dough into two parts for convenience, roll it out, and cut out circles. Place about 1-1.5 tsp of filling in each circle and seal the edges.
- If you want to enjoy them later, you can freeze the dumplings on a wooden board. Once frozen, transfer them to a bag for storage. When you're ready to cook, boil them directly from frozen—no need to thaw.
- Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot, add the dumplings, and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until they float to the surface.
- Serve with sautéed onions (you can also add bacon) and sour cream.
Notes
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