Potato Recipes | RecipeTin Eats https://www.recipetineats.com/category/potato-recipes/ Fast Prep, Big Flavours Tue, 12 Dec 2023 08:52:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.recipetineats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/cropped-favicon@2x.png?w=32 Potato Recipes | RecipeTin Eats https://www.recipetineats.com/category/potato-recipes/ 32 32 171556125 Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes https://www.recipetineats.com/brie-dauphinoise-potatoes/ https://www.recipetineats.com/brie-dauphinoise-potatoes/#comments Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://www.recipetineats.com/?p=127263 Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes photoI am so excited to share this Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes because it ticks a lot of boxes! Feel good food with wow-factor that’s knee-knockingly delicious, straight forward, great for make-ahead and not that expensive. The perfect potato side dish for special occasions! Potato Dauphinoise – elevated I used to think classic Potato Dauphinoise was the... Get the Recipe

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I am so excited to share this Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes because it ticks a lot of boxes! Feel good food with wow-factor that’s knee-knockingly delicious, straight forward, great for make-ahead and not that expensive. The perfect potato side dish for special occasions!

Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes photo

Potato Dauphinoise – elevated

I used to think classic Potato Dauphinoise was the ultimate potato bake But then we plonked brie on it, baked it, and it catapulted into another stratosphere! Because brie trumps ordinary cheese every day of the week, and twice on special occasions.

Think: melt-in-your-mouth layers of thinly sliced potato bubbling away in a butter-cream sauce perfumed with just the right amount of garlic and thyme. Already great.

But then we place brie on top, cut face down, and pop it back in the oven until it melts and oozes all over the surface and seeps down the sides. Incredible.

And then – you cut into the brie skins to discover pockets of gooey brie underneath. Your eyes widen, your face splits into a huge grin, you do a little happy dance and you scoop up way, way more than your fair share.

You know I’m describing myself here. Though I’d wager this describes you too, when you make this!!

Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes freshly baked
Love the visual impact of the mini brie on the surface!

Ingredients in Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes

This recipe is actually a simplified version of tartiflette which is a potato bake from the French Alps. It’s baked with Reblochon cheese on top, one of those pungent washed rind cheeses which I haven’t seen here in Australia. So we’re going with good ole’ brie in our version! Here’s what you need:

1. Mini bries

This recipe calls for 3 x small brie that are 8 cm/3.2″ wide weighing 125g / 4oz each. I use the Woolworths brand one which are $2.80 each. Don’t bother with artisan brie, it’s wasted for this dish!

Brie for Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes
If you’re looking at this photo for size context – remember, I have small hands. 😂

Small bries work well because once split in half, 3 small ones almost fully cover the surface of a 1.5 litre / 1.5 quart (6 cup) baking dish in which the potato dauphinoise is baked. The idea behind using small ones is that the skin of the cheese sort of contains some of the cheese inside even once fully melted, so you get an impressive ooze when you cut into it.

However, if you can’t find the small ones, just use two larger ones. I’d keep them whole so the skin holds some of the cheese underneath because honestly, that is one of the great things about this dish. 🥰

Brie vs camembert – Camembert will work just as well, it’s just that brie is richer (~65% fat v 45%).

2. The potato bake part

These are the same ingredients as classic Dauphinoise Potatoes excluding shredded cheese. Because even the self confessed Cheese Queen admits that’d be too much cheese!

Ingredients in Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes
  • Potatoes – We want to use starchy potatoes for potato bakes like this so they break down and become soft and fluffy, rather than slippery like waxy potatoes do. It’s so disappointing when you cut through the molten cheesy topping only to find the potato slices are sliding all over the place (from the vivid description, you can guess I’ve made that mistake!).

    Australia – Sebago (those dirt brushed potatoes) are ideal. US – Russet, and UK – King Edward or Maris Piper are perfect. Or any other starchy potatoes – Dutch creams, King Edwards or red delight.

  • Cream – Thickened or heavy cream work best, otherwise any full fat cream. This is the sauce in Dauphinoise that makes the potatoes so deliciously creamy.

  • Garlic and butter – Mixed into the cream for deliciously buttery garlicky flavour in the creamy sauce.

  • Fresh thyme – Scattered on each layer of potatoes, fresh thyme adds the most beautiful hint of herby flavour. Dried thyme really isn’t the same. But if you really can’t get fresh, just use dried (half the quantity as dried is more intense than fresh).

  • Salt and pepper – For scattering on the layers as you assemble.


How to make Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes

The part that is a bit finicky is slicing the potatoes thinly though if you’ve got a mandolin you’ll make short work of it. Other than that, this is breeze to make!

  1. Cut the brie in half horizontally to form 2 rounds. Do this while fridge cold, it’s easier (cutting gooey room temperature brie is a mess!).

  2. Cream sauce – Mix the cream, butter and garlic in a jug.

  1. Slice the potatoes using a mandolin (if you’ve got it), else, sharpen your knife and get to work!

  2. Layer one third of the potatoes in a 1.5 litre / 6 cup baking dish. Pour over one-third of the cream (make sure you scoop up some of the garlic settled at the base too) then sprinkle with one third of the thyme, salt and pepper.

  1. Repeat twice more, using up all the cream, thyme, salt and pepper, so you have 3 layers in total.

  2. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes or until the potatoes are basically done ie. soft (use a butter knife to test in the centre).

    I know that sounds like a long time, and yours might be faster especially if you use a larger baking dish so the potatoes are not stacked as deep as mine. But for me, it consistently takes 80 minutes! The potatoes won’t get much softer during the 30 minute brie melting time, they just enjoy bubbling away in the melty brie.

  1. Brie – Remove the foil. Place brie on top, cut face down.

  2. Bake for a further 30 minutes or until the melted brie is bubbling and the edges are golden. Rest 5 minutes then serve!

Scooping Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes

Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes in a bowl
Pictured with Pomegranate Spinach Salad and inhaled as dinner!

It’s a side….it’s a meal!

You know I’m pitching this to you as a side dish. There are rumblings in the RecipeTin family WhatsApp thread that this needs to make an appearance on Christmas Day alongside the Seafood Platter which would go so well – think, light, cold seafood with warm oozy potato dauphinoise. YES!!!

But I exaggerate not when I say I’ve been inhaling bowls of this as a meal with a leafy side salad. It’s pictured above with an on-point holiday appropriate Pomegranate Salad (it’s got candied walnuts!). And not 5 minutes ago, I finished making the recipe video and it was dinner with this Rocket Salad on the side.

Making ahead – and leftovers

And lastly, just letting you know this is a make-ahead beauty! Assemble and bake for the covered part. Refrigerate, then finish baking it on the day with the brie on top.

In the event you are fortunate enough to have leftovers, I strongly suggest hiding the dish at the back of the fridge so you can enjoy leftovers without sharing. Or do as I suggested to a friend – cover with foil and label as RAW CHICKEN (to deter teenage boys). It works. 😈 – Nagi x


Watch how to make it

Brie Dauphinoise Potatoes photo
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Brie Potato Dauphinoise (Gratin)

Recipe video above. I used to think classic Potato Dauphinoise was the ultimate potato bake But then we plonked brie on it and it catapulted into another stratosphere! Because brie trumps ordinary cheese every day of the week, and twice on special occasions .
Mini brie are good value at grocery stores ($2.80 each), expensive ones are wasted for this purpose. Also, this is great for making ahead.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine French
Keyword Dauphinoise Potatoes, Potato Bake, potato casserole, Potatoes au Gratin
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 10 people
Calories 334cal
Author Nagi

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups thickened / heavy cream , full fat – or just pure cream (Note 1)
  • 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
  • 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter , melted
  • 1.25 kg / 2.5 lb starchy potatoes (Aus: Sebago dirt brushed, US: Russet, UK: Maris Piper) (Note 2)
  • 1 tsp cooking / kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp thyme leaves , fresh (optional – but highly recommended, Note 3)
  • 3 x 125g / 4oz small brie (8cm / 3.2" wide) , fridge cold, cut in half horizontally (or camembert) (Note 4)

Instructions

  • Cream Mixture: Place butter, cream and garlic in a jug. Mix until combined.
  • Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (both fan and standard ovens).
  • Slice potatoes: Peel the potatoes and slice them 1/8"/3 mm thick. Or use a slicer!
  • Layer 1: Spread 1/3 of the potatoes in a 1.5 litre / 6 cup baking dish (Note 5). Then pour over 1/3 of the Cream Mixture, scatter with 1/3 of the salt, pepper and thyme.
  • Layers 2 & 3: Repeat for the 2nd and third layer.
  • Cover & bake: Cover with foil, and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes or until the potatoes in the middle are soft (use knife to test), it might take 1 1/2 hours. (Note 6)
  • Top with brie, bake again: Remove foil. Place brie on the surface, cut side down. Bake for a further 30 minutes until the brie is oozy and the edges tinged with gold.
  • Serve – Stand 5 minutes before serving and be prepared to swoon!

Notes

1. Cream – For a lighter version, use light fat, or US half and half (or use 1/2 cream, half milk). But it won’t have the same rich mouthfeel. Don’t try this with just milk.
2. Potatoes – Australia: Use Sebago (“dirt” potatoes, sold everywhere), US: Russet, UK: King Edward or Maris Piper
OR any other starchy potatoes. Dutch creams, King Edwards or red delight. Great all rounders like golden delight, coliban and red rascal are also great.
3. Thyme – Really try to get fresh for this special dish. But if you can’t, use 1 tsp dried thyme and crush it between your fingers to powder it up slightly, it will release a bit of extra flavour.
4. Brie – No need to get expensive ones, I use the Woolworths brand one (125g/4oz, 8cm / 3″ diameter) which are $2.80 each. Camembert also works but brie is richer with a higher fat content ~65% v 45% for camembert.
Cut when fridge cold, it’s easier because it’s firmer.
Small brie works best because 3 cut in half will cover the surface nicely, and the skin sort of holds some of the oozy cheese in though some will ooze out and spread across the surface and seep down the sides. 
If you can’t get small, just use 2 larger ones.
5. Baking Dish Size – I use a 1.5L / 1.5 Qt / 6 cup, 18 x 26 cm x 5 cm / 7 x 11 x 2″ oval shape, or thereabouts but it’s full to the brim so a slightly larger one would be more ideal. A 26 cm / 11″ skillet also works great. A 20cm/8″ square pan is too small. Larger dish is fine – just means the potatoes au gratin isn’t as deep
6. Baking time – Will differ depending on shape of dish, depth of potatoes, heat retention of baking dish, reliability of oven etc, 1 hour 20 minutes covered is consistently the time for me. Also, if you cut potatoes thicker (accidentally or on-purpose), they will take longer to cook. 🙂
7. Make ahead: Near perfect for make ahead! Bake covered with the foil until the potatoes are fully cooked (it might take 1 1/2 hours). Cool uncovered on counter then refrigerate covered. Remove from fridge 2 hours prior. Warm in the oven covered in foil for 15 minutes, plonk the brie on then bake uncovered 30 minutes. 
To speed things up you can microwave it then pop it in the oven (this is dense so takes quite a while to reheat in the oven, depends on depth of baking dish you use).
Leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
Nutrition assumes 10 servings.

Nutrition

Serving: 110g | Calories: 334cal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 483mg | Potassium: 430mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 847IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 1mg

More potato sides I love


Life of Dozer

Figuring out the Advent calendar….

Figured it out!

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Holiday Stuffed Sweet Potato – with bacon, pecans & sage https://www.recipetineats.com/holiday-stuffed-sweet-potato-with-bacon-pecans-sage/ https://www.recipetineats.com/holiday-stuffed-sweet-potato-with-bacon-pecans-sage/#comments Wed, 22 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://www.recipetineats.com/?p=125571 Freshly baked Holiday stuffed sweet potatoesStuffed sweet potato with holiday vibes! Baked sweet potatoes stuffed with crispy bacon, toasty pecans and swirls of browned butter, with melty cheese and a crunchy sage-panko topping. A swoon-worthy combination of flavours and texture. Stuffed Baked Sweet Potato Casserole This is a riff on my sweet potato casserole, baked in individual sweet potato boats... Get the Recipe

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Stuffed sweet potato with holiday vibes! Baked sweet potatoes stuffed with crispy bacon, toasty pecans and swirls of browned butter, with melty cheese and a crunchy sage-panko topping. A swoon-worthy combination of flavours and texture.

Freshly baked Holiday stuffed sweet potatoes

Stuffed Baked Sweet Potato Casserole

This is a riff on my sweet potato casserole, baked in individual sweet potato boats rather than one big casserole pan. The scooped out flesh of baked sweet potatoes are mashed with all sorts of holiday-flavour-goodness (specifically browned butter, pecans and bacon, an utterly divine combination with sweet potato), stuffed back into the potato boats, baked with melty cheese then finished with a shower of crunchy sage-bacon-flavoured-panko breadcrumbs.

PHEW that’s a long sentence!!!

No, it’s not a quick Monday-night side dish slapped together in a rush. This is a starchy side that commands attention, that’s indulgent and lush and made for special occasions. The flavour combination of sweet-salty-nutty-buttery and the crunchy topping with the creamy insides is just unbelievably good.

Bonus: Assemble ahead then bake on the day!

Inside of Holiday stuffed sweet potatoes

Ingredients

Sweet potatoes

I’m using 300g/10oz sweet potatoes which, once halved, makes a nice size portion as a side dish for one person, If your potatoes are larger or smaller, that’s fine. There’s enough topping / filling for around 1.2kg / 2.4lb sweet potato, whether it’s 6 smaller ones or 3 larger ones.

This recipe will also work with regular potatoes. But the flavour combination here has been specifically designed for sweet potatoes. Try my regular Twice Baked Stuffed Potatoes instead – though there’s nothing regular about how delicious that recipe is!!

Add-ins and crunchy sage-panko topping

Here’s what you need to mix into the filling and for the crunchy topping.

  • Unsalted butter – We’re using this to make browned butter today. More intensely buttery with warm nutty flavours. The better butter!

  • Bacon – Chopped then fried up until crispy and golden, we use the fat to pan fry the panko until golden. No wasting free flavour!

  • Colby cheese – This is my all-rounder go-to cheese with good melting qualities and flavour without going greasy. Feel free to substitute with other cheese of choice – cheddar, tasty, Monterey jack, gruyere, swiss cheese. If using mozzarella, I’d mix in 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese for a flavour / salt boost.

  • Spices – Garlic, onion powder and paprika.

  • Panko breadcrumbs – For the toppings! Larger and crunchier than ordinary breadcrumbs, find it in the Asian aisle of regular grocery stores (though cheaper at Asian stores!).

  • Fresh sage – This is my herb of choice for this holiday-inspired side dish. The earthy flavour is sheer perfection with the buttery sweet potato. If you’re cooking for a special occasion, I think it’s worth getting. But if you don’t have it, you can substitute with rosemary for another herb that will work well with the other flavours in this dish. Otherwise, just use parsley so you get similar green specks (don’t worry, there is plenty of other flavour going on in this dish!).


How to make Stuffed Sweet Potato Casserole

In a nutshell, the flesh of baked potatoes are mashed up with the tasty add ins, re-stuffed back into the potato then baked with cheese and a crunchy topping.

  1. Bake – Prick the skin with a fork to allow excess juice to leak out (this prevents skin burstage). Then bake the potatoes in a 200°C / 400°F (180°C fan forced) oven for 75 minutes or until soft. Check with a butter knife, not a sharp knife (too sharp so it glides through even if not properly cooked, made this mistake!).

  2. Scoop – Let it cool for 10 minutes just so you can handle it. Then cut in half and scoop the flesh out, using a tea towel to hold the potato if needed.

  1. Filling – Mash the flesh up with all the filling add-ins (see below for steps for each) – the browned butter, crispy bacon bits, chopped pecans, spices and cheese. Reserve half the bacon, pecans and cheese for topping.

  2. Stuff the potato with the filling then top with the remaining cheese,

  1. Bake for 25 minutes until the cheese is melty and there’s golden spots.

  2. Top with the reserved bacon, pecans and golden panko mixture (see below). Bake for a further 3 to 4 minutes just to warm the crunchy topping then serve!

Tray of Holiday stuffed sweet potatoes

Add-ins and panko topping

Prepare the panko topping and add-ins to mix into the filling while the potatoes are baking.

  1. Browned butter – Just melt then simmer the butter until you see golden bits and it smells nutty and intensely buttery. Ideally, use a silver saucepan or small pan so you can see the golden bits. Otherwise, use a spoon to scoop up the butter to check.

  2. Toast pecans – Using a non-stick pan, toast the pecans for 3 minutes in a dry pan until it you see golden spots. Then transfer to a cutting board and chop once cool,

  1. Crispy bacon – In the same pan, fry the bacon until crispy and golden. If using streaky bacon, you won’t need extra oil because the fat in the bacon will melt. Then remove the bacon using a slotted spoon so the fat in the pan gets left behind – we’re not wasting a drop of it!

  2. Crunchy panko – Add the panko, sage and salt. Then cook for a few minutes in the bacon fat until the panko is golden.

Toppings, done! Use as per directions in the section above.

Close up photo of Holiday stuffed sweet potatoes

Serving and making ahead

We (JB and I) created this recipe with upcoming holiday gatherings in mind. As in, a starchy side dish intended to make an impact on your guests for those extra special dinners.

Does it take more effort than a regular baked potato? It sure does. Does it take more effort than making one big pan of Sweet Potato Casserole? Yes, because we’re assembling multiple ones rather than dumping everything into one big pan.

Is it worth the effort? Yes, a million times over. As someone in my team said, you feel sad when you finish the last bite because you never want the eating experience to end.

But don’t worry. Steal the last one left for yourself. Hide it. No need to share! #HolidaySpirit 😈 – Nagi x


Watch how to make it

Freshly baked Holiday stuffed sweet potatoes
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Holiday Stuffed Sweet Potato

Recipe video above. Stuffed sweet potato made for holiday feasting! Twice baked sweet potatoes stuffed with crispy bacon, toasty pecans and swirls of browned butter with melty cheese, and a crunchy sage-panko topping. A swoon-worthy combination of flavours and texture, this is the individual servings version of my sweet potato casserole.
Excellent special occasion starchy-side dish with holiday flavour vibes. Get ahead by assembling then baking on the day!
Course Sides
Cuisine Western, Western – Holiday Sides
Keyword baked sweet potato, holiday sweet potato side, stuffed sweet potato, sweet potato recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 8 halves
Author Nagi

Ingredients

  • 4 x 300g / 10oz sweet potatoes , skin on, washed and dried
  • 1/2 tsp cooking / kosher salt
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 5 tbsp pecan nuts (Note 2)
  • 200g / 7 oz streaky bacon , chopped (Note 5 to omit)
  • 1 1/2 cups colby cheese , shredded (Note 3)
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp paprika

Panko topping:

  • 1/4 tsp cooking / kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp sage leaves , finely chopped (Note 4)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 200°C / 400°F (180°C fan forced).
  • Bake – Prick the skin of the potatoes 15 times with a fork. Place on a foil lined baking tray and bake for 75 minutes or until soft all the way through (check with a butter knife).
  • Scoop – Once potatoes cooked, allow to cool for 10 minutes just to handle. Cut in half lengthwise then scoop out the flesh, leaving a 0.5cm (0.2") wall (use a tea towel if hot). Place flesh in a bowl.
  • Stuffing (*see below for prepping components*)- Mash the potatoes with a fork. Then add the browned butter, 1/2 tsp salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder and paprika. The add half of each the pecans, bacon and cheese (rest reserved for toppings). Stir until combined.
  • Stuff – Place halved sweet potato back on a paper lined baking tray and stuff them equally with filling. Sprinkle with leftover cheese and bake for 25 minutes until cheese is melted.
  • Crunchy topping – Top with reserved pecans, bacon and panko mixture. Bake for another 3 to 4 minutes
  • Rest for 5 minutes then serve!

Stuffing & topping components

  • Prepare these while the potatoes are baking.
  • Browned butter – Melt the butter in a small silver pan or saucepan over medium heat. Leave to simmer on medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring every now and then, until (when you push foam aside) you see little golden-brown bits and it smells nutty. Immediately pour into a small bowl (including the golden bits) and set aside.
  • Toast pecans – Heat a non-stick pan over medium high heat. Add pecans and toast for 2 to 3 minutes until they have golden spots. Transfer to cutting board, cool then finely chop.
  • Crispy bacon – Add bacon into the same pan over medium heat. When the fat starts to melt, turn the heat up to medium high and cook until golden (4 to 5 minutes). Scoop out bacon with a slotted spoon and place into a small bowl. Leave leftover fat in the pan.
  • Golden panko – Still on medium high, add the Panko topping ingredients. Stir until golden, around 2 minutes, then scrape into a bowl.

Notes

1. Sweet potato – If your potatoes are larger or smaller, that’s fine. There’s enough topping / filling for around 1.2kg / 2.4lb sweet potato.
2. Nuts – sub almonds, walnuts, macadamia or other of choice.
3. Cheese alternatives – sub cheddar, tasty, gruyere, Monterey jack, gruyere, swiss cheese. If using mozzarella, I’d mix in 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese for a flavour / salt boost.
4. Sage works so well with the flavours in this dish (fresh, not dried). Rosemary is my back up herb here. Fallback – just use parsley for the green specks in the topping!
5. To leave out bacon – it will still be great without because there’s so many other flavours going on here. If you really want to compensate, then add 1/4 cup parmesan into the filling and 2 tbsp into the Panko mixture. It will take the place of the flavour and salt punch you get from bacon! 
6. Assemble ahead – The potatoes can be cooked and stuffed, then baked the next day. Leftovers will keep for 4 days though there’s nothing like freshly baked!
Nutrition per serving.

More statement starchy sides


Life of Dozer

A duck must’ve pooped there.

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Fondant potatoes https://www.recipetineats.com/fondant-potatoes/ https://www.recipetineats.com/fondant-potatoes/#comments Wed, 01 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://www.recipetineats.com/?p=123452 Making Fondant potatoesFondant potatoes – or Melting Potatoes – are potatoes baked in a buttery herb infused broth so it absorbs the flavour and becomes meltingly tender inside. A restaurant-y way to cook potatoes that’s easy yet looks impressive! Excellent dinner party side dish. Fondant potatoes aka Melting potatoes Today’s recipe is a sublime example of turning... Get the Recipe

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Fondant potatoes – or Melting Potatoes – are potatoes baked in a buttery herb infused broth so it absorbs the flavour and becomes meltingly tender inside. A restaurant-y way to cook potatoes that’s easy yet looks impressive! Excellent dinner party side dish.

Making Fondant potatoes

Fondant potatoes aka Melting potatoes

Today’s recipe is a sublime example of turning the humble potato into a very fine-dining worthy potato side dish. Putting the shaping part aside (which is entirely optional, we’ll get to that), it’s incredibly straight forward. Just brown neat cylinders/thick wonky slabs of potato on the stove, add stock, thyme and butter then bake so it absorbs the flavour.

The result? Crispy edges, golden surfaces, creamy and flavoured all the way through inside, with intense herb infused-buttery sauce that’s thickened from the natural starches in the potato. This might be my favourite potato recipe of all time!

Spooning butter over Fondant potatoes

Inside of Fondant potatoes

Ingredients in fondant potatoes

Here’s what you need to make fondant potatoes:

  • Potato type – All-rounder and floury / starchy potatoes are best because they absorb flavour better than waxy potatoes, and become beautifully fluffy and soft inside. The most common potatoes at regular stores should be fine – they’re stocked because they’re great all-rounders.

    Australia – Sebago (the dirt brushed potatoes sold everywhere) are perfect, Desiree are great too. US: Russet, UK: King Edward.

  • Butter – Unsalted, cut into cubes so they melt evenly. If you don’t, some of the butter will likely burn before it all melts. This is for basting. We use oil for searing the potatoes (butter burns and doesn’t brown the potatoes as evenly).

  • Stock/broth – Chicken stock adds the best flavour in my opinion, because it has more savouriness than vegetable stock and is “cleaner” than beef stock. However, vegetable stock is the next best. Though really, this recipe will work with any type of stock.

  • Thyme – Fresh thyme sprigs work best to infuse the butter / stock with flavour. But you can substitute with dried thyme though you will end up with little thyme bits stuck on your potato.


How to cut fondant potatoes

Choose from pro level to easy – or skip it entirely! Just peel potatoes then cut into thick slabs. It will taste just as good!

GOAL SIZE & PREP

  1. Goal: 8 cylinders that are ~ 6cm/ 2.4″ diameter, 3.5 cm / 1.4″ height, 2 each cut from 4 potatoes (ie cut 4 long cylinders then cut to size).

  2. Trim baseFor all methods, the first step is to peel the potatoes then trim a bit off the top and bottom so it stands upright. It just makes it easier to handle.

1. PRO-LEVEL CARVING

For knife masters! This is method will achieve the smoothest edges.

  1. Lie the potato on its side then carve, peeling curved strips to make a cylinder shape.

  2. Keep going, carving thinner and thinner slices until you have a uniform cylinder.

2. INTERMEDIATE: UPRIGHT KNIFE SHAVING

Stand the potato upright. Then cut thin slivers down, rotating as you go, until you have a cylinder shape with edges are as smooth as you can make them. At first, mine are a bit octagon-shaped. Then I just keep trimming thin slivers off the sharp edges to smooth it out.

TIP: Use the back of a knife (ie the non-sharp side) and scrape down the sides of the potato to make the walls neat.

3. eASY: POTATO PEELER

Use a potato peeler to shave strips off the sides, rotating as you go, to shape it into a cylinder as best you can. I find this a little more difficult to make a uniform cylinder shape than using a knife because I find I have less control over how much I shave off with each peel. Also, peeling straight is a little harder.

4. EASY: ROUND CUTTER

Use a 6cm / 2.4″ (or as close as possible) cutter to pop rounds out. The easiest way to do this is to cut 3.5 cm / 1.4″ thick slices then press a round out of each. If your cutter is not tall enough, then use a knife to help trim / pull the excess away (I demo this in the video).

5. JUST DON’T!!

Just cut the potato into 3.5 cm / 1.4″ thick slices and cook per the recipe. It tastes the same, the potato pieces just won’t be perfect rounds (unless you’re lucky!). You won’t need all the potatoes because your pieces will be bigger (unless you use smaller potatoes). Just use enough to fill the pan around the same amount as pictured. Don’t be tempted to squeeze more in because there won’t be enough stock to flavour the inside of the potatoes.

How to make fondant potatoes

Cutting part done, the cooking part is EASY!

  1. Season – Toss the potatoes in a little oil with salt and pepper.

  2. Brown potatoes – Then brown them on the stove using an oven-proof skillet. I use my 26cm / 10.5″ Lodge cast iron pan. It will take a good 6 to 8 minutes on each side to make them golden, on medium high heat. Move them around as needed to brown them as evenly as possible.

  3. Butter – Add the butter and thyme, then spoon the melted butter over the potatoes.

  4. Stock – Pour the stock in and let it come to a boil.

  1. Bake – Transfer the skillet into the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, basting the potato with the buttery stock at the 15 minute mark (ie spooning the sauce over the potatoes). In this step, the potatoes are absorbing the stock which flavours the inside and makes it “meltingly” soft.

  2. Ready! At the end of the bake time, there should be virtually no stock left in the pan, just butter. Because potatoes can’t absorb fat. The butter will be slightly thickened thanks to the starch in the potatoes, making a glossy sauce that clings to the potatoes when you spoon it over.

    To serve, transfer the potatoes to individual plates or a serving platter for people to help themselves. And pour over every drop of the buttery sauce!

Fondant potatoes in a skillet

What to serve with fondant potatoes

I feel like it would be easier to say what not to serve with fondant potatoes. 🙂 With the subtle thyme flavour, I wouldn’t serve this with Asian food. But without the thyme, it would be a delicious side dish for Char Sui Pork (Chinese BBQ Pork), Sticky Honey Soy Baked Chicken or a grand Miso Marinated side of salmon !

Asian food aside, this is an elegant, beautiful potato side dish for special occasions. It’s pictured in this post alongside steak with Béarnaise Sauce (it’s so easy!) with last weeks’ Garlic Peas. It would elevate a simple Chicken in Creamy Mustard Sauce to company-worthy, or add a luxurious side to a simple pan fried fish sprinkled with seafood seasoning.

You could also cook this in the oven at the same time as a roast chicken or a grand prime rib (standing rib roast). Just put the potatoes in for the last 35 minutes cooking time, factoring in the resting time. Err on the side of caution so the potatoes are done earlier because they can be reheated simply by popping the skillet back in the oven for 5 minutes (from room temperature, it will take longer from fridge cold).

Or, just do as I do and eat them by themselves. You know I did. The only question is, how many? TAKE A GUESS! – Nagi x


Watch how to make it

OF COURSE Dozer got some!!! I just forgot to edit that in, concentrating too hard on getting the new-style video edits right. Everybody knows Dozer is the most food-spoiled dog in the world!!!😂

Making Fondant potatoes
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Fondant Potatoes (Melting potatoes)

Recipe video above. Golden on the outside and meltingly tender inside (hence the name!), infused with flavour from roasting in a buttery stock. Lovely, elegant way to cook potatoes, very restaurant-y!
If you're in a hurry, don't worrying about shaping into cylinders. Just cut thick slabs of potato (whatever shape they happen to be!) and cook per the recipe. Or, just use a potato peeler to shape as best you can. It will still taste just as good!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Western
Keyword fondant potatoes, melting potatoes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8
Calories 149cal
Author Nagi

Ingredients

  • 4 x 400g/14 oz large floury potatoes , peeled (Aus: Sebago (dirt brushed), US: Russet, UK: King Edward)
  • 3/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp / 50g unsalted butter , cut into 1cm / 1/2″ cubes
  • 6 thyme sprigs (sub 1/2 tsp dried thyme)
  • 1 cup chicken stock / broth , low sodium (or vegetable)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 200°C / 390°F (180°C fan-forced).
  • Carve / cut each potato into cylinders ~ 6cm/ 2" diameter, 7 cm height. Then cut in half so you have 8 short cylinders 3.5 cm / 1.4" tall. See cutting method options below.
  • Season – Pat potato dry. Place in a large bowl and toss with half the oil plus all the salt and pepper.
  • Sear – In an ovenproof heavy based skillet (Note 2), heat the remaining 1 tbsp oil over medium high heat. Put the potato in and cook each side for 6 – 8 minutes or until golden.
  • Cook – Add butter and thyme. Once melted, spoon the butter over the potato ("basting"). Add stock, bring to a boil then transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender, basting at the 15 minute mark. The stock will be absorbed by the potato, leaving just butter.
  • Serve – Baste one more time then serve! For a restaurant-y option, serve alongside steak with béarnaise sauce and buttered peas.

Cutting method options (see video for demo of each):

  • Prep for all methods – Trim a bit off both ends so the potato stands upright. Once carved into a tall cylinder 6cm/ 2" diameter, at least 7cm/3" height, so we can cut into 3.5 cm / 1.4" tall pieces. Save leftover potato to make mash (keep in water to prevent turning brown).
  • Pro method – Lie potato on its side and use a knife to carve around to form a cylinder.
  • Intermediate (I do this)– Stand potato upright and use a knife to shave thin slivers down, rotating as needed, to carve into a cylinder. You can use a potato peeler for some of this too (just be a bit careful, less control).
  • Easy – Use 6cm/ 2" (or as close as possible) wide cutters to press rounds out!
  • Easy potato peeler – Use a potato peeler to shape as best you can, rotating as you go.
  • Doesn't matter! – Just cut potatoes into 3.5cm / 1.4" thick slices! Even if your rounds are not so round, it will still taste delicious. Only cut enough to fill the pan, as pictured, else you'll have too much potato for the stock being used (flavour dilution),

Notes

1. Potato type – Floury potatoes best as they absorb the stock flavour better and become meltingly tender inside (waxy potatoes don’t work as well).
Size – They need to be large so you can cut 2 x 3.5cm / 1.4″ tall cylinders from each.
2. Cooking vessel – I use my Lodge cast iron skillet (26cm / 10.5″). My #2 most valued kitchen item!
Leftovers will keep for 4 days or freeze for 3 months, though these are at their prime freshly made!
Nutrition per potato, assuming every drop of butter is mopped up. 

Nutrition

Calories: 149cal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 233mg | Potassium: 402mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 194IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

More fabulous potato sides!

And some no-fuss Monday nights ones too. 🙂 (Like Easy Roast Potatoes).


Life of Dozer

Memories of ALL the food he got during the making of Dinner!

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Pierogi – Polish dumplings https://www.recipetineats.com/pierogi-ruskie-polish-dumplings/ https://www.recipetineats.com/pierogi-ruskie-polish-dumplings/#comments Fri, 13 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://www.recipetineats.com/?p=121455 Plate of Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)Pierogi Ruskies: Potatoes. Cheese. Butter. The Polish are genius – this is dumpling heaven! A great weekend project – cook some now, freeze some for later. They cook from frozen!! A Pierogi Ruskie recipe I’m so excited to be bringing you this Pierogi recipe! I’d eat them every day if they didn’t tip the scales in the... Get the Recipe

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Pierogi Ruskies: Potatoes. Cheese. Butter. The Polish are genius – this is dumpling heaven! A great weekend project – cook some now, freeze some for later. They cook from frozen!!

Making Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)

A Pierogi Ruskie recipe

I’m so excited to be bringing you this Pierogi recipe! I’d eat them every day if they didn’t tip the scales in the wrong direction. 😭

Even if you haven’t tried a Pierogi before, all you need to know is that these ones are cheesy, creamy mashed potato filled dumplings served with an intensely butter onion sauce.

In other words, it is every Cheese-Lovin’ Carb Monster’s Dream come true, and she who is the self appointed Head Priestess of this Club was literally in mind-boggling ecstasy when faced with a plate of these.

They are, to say the least, one of the most delicious things I’ve eaten this year!

Plate of Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)

Showing the inside of Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)

What are Pierogi?

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. The filling? Cheese! Potato! Butter! Even if you’ve never had one before, these three words already mean you know you’re going to love it!

What they taste like: Pierogis are heartier and heftier than Asian dumplings like gyoza and Chinese potstickers. The dumpling wrapper is thicker and the filling is often rich. The dumpling itself is also bigger and heavier, and often topped with a sauce of melted butter. Tt may not be the lightest of meals but it will be one of the best things you eat this month!!

Ingredients in Pierogi

Very, very few!

THE Pierogi filling

It’s essentially cheesy, buttery, creamy mashed potato. See authenticity note below the photo on the cheese, and why it was important for me to make this recipe accessible to “everyone”!

Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings) ingredients
  • Potatoes – Use all-rounder potatoes so they mash up fluffy and creamy. The most common potatoes at regular stores will be fine – they’re stocked because they’re great all-rounders.

    Australia – Sebago (the dirt brushed potatoes sold everywhere) are perfect, Desiree are great too. US: Yukon Gold, russet, UK: Maris piper, King Edward.

  • Cheese – I use cheddar but any good melting cheese you’d happily put in your grilled cheese is fine. Give mozzarella a miss. While it melts great, it doesn’t have enough flavour.

    Authenticity note – Pierogi is traditionally made with quark, a mildly tangy European cottage cheese. Quark is not something I’ve seen frequently in Australia. Cottage cheese is probably the best substitute. But shredded cheese, as you can imagine, makes a delicious alternative – imagine it melted throughout creamy mashed potato!

    I opted to use regular cheese because I want this recipe to be as accessible as possible so many people can experience the greatness that is Pieorgis.

  • Butter – Use unsalted so we can add the right amount of salt.


Pierogi DUMPLING DOUGH

Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings) ingredients
  • Flour – Just plain / all-purpose flour.

  • Large egg – From a carton labelled “large eggs” (they should weight around 55-60g/2 oz).

  • Butter – Melted into the water that I accidentally left out of the phot. 🙂


ONION BUTTER SAUCE

You could serve the Pierogis will just melted butter and you’d swoon. But it’s even better with a sautéed onion sauce which is common with traditional Polish Pierogis.

Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings) ingredients

How to make Pierogi

Pierogis are easier to wrap than gyoza and potstickers. Because Asians like pleating – which can take practice to master. The Polish just press to seal. Much simpler! – I’m a big fan 🙂

HOT TIP: Got a Pierogi itch that needs scratching but homemade wrappers are out of reach? Use store-bought round Asian dumpling wrappers instead. The wrappers are thinner but it works a treat!

1. CHEESY POTATO FILLING FIRST

Make the filling first because it needs 1 1/2 hours to fully cool, during which time you’ll have the dough rolled out and cut, ready to fill!

How to make Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)
  1. Boil potatoes in salted water, starting with the potatoes in cold water. Why? Because otherwise the outside of the potatoes cook too much and start to crumble before the inside is cooked.

  2. Drain potatoes.

How to make Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)
  1. Mash & mix – Pass the potatoes through a potato ricer or mash using a regular potato masher. Then mix in the butter, cheese, salt and pepper. The cheese won’t melt – it melts when the pierogis is boiled!

  2. Cool – Spread out on to a tray. Cover with cling wrap, pressing so it is fully in contact, so the filling doesn’t sweat. Cool on the counter (about 30 minutes) then refrigerate until cold (1 hour+). You can do this the day before.

    The filling needs to be cold so it doesn’t sweat inside the dough (which would make the dough soggy). It’s also easier to wrap the dumplings because the potato is firm.

2. how to make pierogi dumpling DOUGH

You could use your stand-mixer but I enjoy the leisurely process of hand-kneading this dough. It’s easy to manage because it’s a small amount and the dough is soft. Plus, hand-kneading is somewhat satisfying, and you can (smugly) tell everybody fortunate enough to eat one of these – I made these myself with my own hands. (You know I do!)

  1. Dry – Whisk the flour and salt in a mixing bowl.

  2. Add wet – Make a well in the centre. Then add melted butter with warm water plus the egg. Mix to combine using a spatula – it will be a rough, shaggy dough.

  3. Knead – Scrape out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead for 5 minutes until the dough becomes smooth. Use the bare minimum flour as needed to prevent it from sticking to your hands and the work surface. (Too much flour = drier stiffer dough = more difficult to roll out thinly).

  4. Rest – Wrap with cling wrap and leave on the counter for 30 minutes.


3. MAKING THE PIEROGIS

How to make Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)
  1. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 3mm / 1/8″ thickness.

  2. Cut out rounds using a 7.5 cm / 3″ cutter. Do as many as you can, then gather surplus dough into a ball, wrap with cling wrap and set aside to roll out and cut more later.

How to make Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)
  1. Filling – Place 1 tablespoon of cheesy potato filling in the middle of a round (20g, if you want to be exact!).

  2. Dip finger with water and run along edge of half the circle. This will help seal securely.

  3. Fold dough over to enclose the filling then press the edges together.

  4. Seal firmly by pinching to make slight dents, the traditional look of pierogis.

    Place them on a lightly floured tray and continue to wrap remaining Pierogi (including rolling out the remaining dough). You should get ~30 pierogis. A nice big batch – cook some now, freeze some for later!

Tray of freshly made Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings) ready to cook

4. HOW TO COOK PIEROGIS

Boil like pasta! Just make sure you don’t crowd the pot. Pierogis needs space to bounce around! I cook 8 in a medium pot, and up to 12 in a wider pot. Tips below for batching cooking larger quantities.

  1. Sauté onion first – Sauté chopped onion in butter until golden on the edges. Then transfer into a bowl or container and use as much or as little as you want for whatever size serving of pierogis you are making. 1 large onion is enough for 30 pierogis because they are only sparingly scattered with onion, like pictured. Cook onion will keep for 5 days in the fridge, or freezer for 3 months.

  2. Boil 5 minutes – Bring ~3 litres/quarts of water to the boil with 1 tablespoon of salt. Lower 10 pierogis into the water and cook for 5 minutes, or until they are floating on the surface (they sink at first).

    ⚠️ As noted above the step photos, don’t crowd the pot else the pierogis will stick together and cook unevenly.
    ⚡️ It’s important to use salted water so you get some seasoning into the pierogis wrapper as it cooks. Makes it tastier!

  1. Reserve water – Dip a jug into the water and scoop out 1 cup water. We’re going to use a bit of this water to make the sauce. The cooking water is better than tap water because it’s got starch from the pierogi dough in it which makes the sauce thicken. If you just mixed water + butter together, it stays water.

  2. Scoop out or drain –  Then use a slotted spoon to transfer pierogi into a bowl. Or, you can drain in a colander if you are not using the water to cook more.

  1. Butter sauce – Using a largish pan, melt 25g butter (1 1/2 tablespoons) over medium heat. Add 1/3 of the onion butter (from step 1) plus the cooked pierogis with 2 tablespoons of the reserved cooking water.

  2. Toss for 1 minute, still on the stove, until the pierogis are coated in the butter sauce. You’ll see it goes from watery (when you first add the water) to thickened so it sticks to the surface of the pierogi.

    Larger batch – Just scale up the butter, onion and water. At this stage, it’s easy to eye-ball it. And I wouldn’t discourage the use of even more butter!

  3. Serve – Slide onto a serving plate, scraping out every drop of butter. Sprinkle with parsley, add a dollop of sour cream. Eat and be happy!

Plate of Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)

Big-batch cooking of Pierogi

As strange as it sounds to have a whole section on how to cook and serve larger batches of pierogi, there’s actually practical factors that come into play that need to be considered! The reason is because they are quite large – bigger than Gyoza and Chinese dumplings, you can’t boil more than 10 to 12 max per batch, and they need to be tossed in the sauce on the stove.

So the recipe I’m sharing today makes 30 pierogis but provides directions to cook one batch of 8 to 10 (which is a nice amount for 2 people). Leftovers are perfect for freezing – you can cook from frozen!

But if you would like to cook all 30 pierogis, here’s some practical tips for how to do it!

boiling large batches

Pierogis need to be boiled in a single layer else they can get stuck together and the wrapping won’t cook evenly. So you’ll max out at around 12 pierogis in a large home-pot.

If you want to make and serve more, then boil in batches of 12 and spread cooked pierogis on a tray. Once you’ve boiled as much as you want, then drop all of them back into the pot for 30 seconds to reheat before tossing with the butter. Reserve a mugful of the cooking water then drain in a colander.

Large batch butter sauce tossing

For the butter sauce tossing part, you can put in as many pierogis as you can comfortably fit into a large skillet. You could even use a large pot. Just make sure you can toss the pierogis, because that’s how you get a nice coating of butter on them.

Simple method for gigantic batches

If you want to serve all 30 pierogis at the same time, an easy way to sauce them up is to make the sauce separately then douse over the pierogis.

To do this, cook the pierogis per above (ie boil then reheat). Drain well in a colander and transfer into a serving bowl. Melt 70g / 4 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter with 1/3 cup of the cooking water in a small pan on medium heat. Simmer for a couple of minutes until the butter thickens (the starch in the pierogi cooking water makes this happen).

Close up of Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)

Serving pierogis

Cooking part done, it’s time to enjoy them! A dollop of sour cream adds a lovely cooling, tangy creamy touch that pairs so well with cheesy mashed potato (proof – reader favourite Stuffed Baked Potatoes!). And a little sprinkle of parsley or chives adds a nice touch of green to an otherwise very beige plate.

And as a plate of food that is an unapologetic celebration of three of my favourite food groups – butter, cheese and potato – a perky fresh side of greens would be a nice accompaniment. Even this self-confessed Cheese Lovin’ Carb Monster needs something fresh to cut through all that richness! Try a classic light vinaigrette with leafy greens or any steamed vegetables.

Hope you love this as much as we do! Big shout out to our Chef JB for doing much of the leg-work on the research, development and testing on this pierogi recipe, then teaching me and answering my many, many questions. It’s been raining pierogis in our kitchen!!! – Nagi x


Watch how to make it

Close up of Pierogi Ruskie (Polish Dumplings)
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Pierogi Ruskies – Polish Dumplings

Recipe video above. Pierogi Ruskie's are Polish dumplings filled with cheesy, creamy mashed potatoes served with an onion butter sauce. They are even more delicious than they sound!
Traditionally made with quark which is an European fresh cheese which isn't easily found in Australia, so I've used cheddar because I want this recipe to be as accessible as possible to many people to experience the greatness that is Pieorgis!!! More in Note 2.
Excellent weekend project – eat some today and freeze some for later (they cook from frozen). Makes a nice big batch of 30 pierogis. For more dumplings of the world – head here!
Course Mains
Cuisine European, polish
Keyword pierogi, pierogi ruskies, polish dumplings
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting dough 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings 30 pierogis
Author Nagi

Ingredients

Pierogi dough:

  • 2 cups flour , plain/all-purpose
  • 1 tsp cooking/kosher salt
  • 50g / 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 large egg , whisked (55-60g/2oz)

Pierogi filling:

  • 500g / 1 lb potatoes , peeled and sliced 1cm / 1/2" thick (2 medium, Note 1)
  • 1 tbsp cooking/kosher salt – for cooking potatoes
  • 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese , tightly packed cup (Note 2)
  • 1/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Onion Butter:

  • 30g/ 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 onion , finely diced
  • 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt

Cooking and serving:

  • 1 tbsp cooking/kosher salt – for boiling water
  • 25g/ 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter , per 8 – 10 pierogis (Note 3)
  • Sour cream , for serving
  • Parsley or chives , finely chopped – just a pinch

Instructions

Filling:

  • Boil potatoes – Put potato and 1 tbsp salt in a large saucepan. Add cold tap water so it's 3cm/1 inch above potatoes. Bring to a boil on high heat then reduce heat to medium high and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft.
  • Mash – Drain, then pass the potatoes through a potato ricer into a bowl (or use potato masher)
  • Cheese it – Immediately add butter, cheese, salt and pepper. Mix with a wooden spoon until fully combined.
  • Cool – Spread out ~1cm / 1/2" thick on a tray. Cover with cling wrap, pressing so it is fully in contact. Cool on the counter (~30 min) then refrigerate until cold (1 hour+).

Pierogi Dough:

  • Melt butter – Heat up the water and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat just until butter is melted, do not boil water. (Or do this in the microwave). Turn off heat.
  • Mix dough – Whisk the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and then add the butter water plus egg. Mix to combine into a shaggy dough.
  • Knead – Scrape out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead for 5 minutes until the dough becomes smooth (Note 3). You could also use your stand mixer.
  • Rest – Wrap with cling wrap and leave on the counter for 30 minutes.

Wrapping pierogis:

  • Roll & cut – On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 3mm / 1/8" thickness. Cut out rounds using a 7.5 cm / 3" cutter. Do as many as you can, then gather surplus dough into a ball, wrap with cling wrap and set aside for later.
  • Fill & wrap – Place 1 tablespoon of cheesy potato filling in the middle of a round. Dip finger with water and run along edge of half the circle. Fold dough over to enclose the filling and press to seal, making slight indents (no pleats).
  • Wrap remaining – Place them on a lightly floured tray and continue to wrap remaining Pierogi (including rolling out the remaining dough). You should get ~30 pierogis.

Onion butter sauce:

  • In a non stick skillet, melt the butter until foamy over medium heat. Add onion and salt, then cook, stirring regularly, for 10 to 15 minutes until golden on the edges. Scrape out into a bowl, then set aside (OK to cool).

Cooking & serving pierogis:

  • Batch cooking – Directions below are for cooking and serving 10. Boil pierogis in batches of 10 to 12 max, they need space to bounce around in the water, and you need space to toss them in the butter. (Note 4 for big batch cooking)
  • Boil 5 minutes – Bring ~3 litres/quarts of water to the boil with 1 tbsp salt. Lower 10 piergosi into the water. Cook for 5 minutes – they should be floating on the surface.
  • Reserve water & drain – Dip a jug into the water and scoop out ~1 cup water. Then use a slotted spoon to transfer pierogi into a bowl (or drain, if not cooking more).
  • Butter sauce – Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/3 of the onion butter plus the cooked pierogis with 2 tablespoons of the reserved cooking water. Toss for 1 minute, still on the stove, until the pierogis are coated in the butter. (Note 4 on scaling up)
  • Serve – Slide onto a serving plate, scraping out every drop of butter. Sprinkle with parsley, add a dollop of sour cream. Eat and be happy!

Notes

Recipe credits – Primarily adapted from this recipe from New York Times Cooking, with references to a whole bunch of other recipes. The main changes we made were process related.
Serving size – 4 to 5 pierogis with a side salad makes a nice meal. They are pretty rich, actually, being solely comprised of potato, cheese and butter!
1. Potatoes – Use your favourite mashing potatoes. All-rounder and floury / starchy potatoes are best. The most common potatoes stocked at regular stores should be good all-rounders.
Australia – Sebago (common dirt brushed potatoes), Desiree. US: Yukon Gold, russet, UK: Maris piper, King Edward.
2. Cheese – Traditionally made with quark which is an European fresh cheese which isn’t easily found in Australia. While cottage cheese is probably the closest substitute, I’ve used shredded cheese which, as you can imagine, is a delicious alternative when it’s melted throughout the potato. 
I use cheddar but any good melting cheese you’d happily put in your grilled cheese is fine (tasty, gruyere, Colby). Give mozzarella a miss – doesn’t have enough flavour for this recipe.
3. Kneading – When you first mix the dough in the bowl and form into a ball, the surface is rough and shaggy. It is kneaded enough when the surface of the dough ball is smooth. See video at 1.39.
4. Batch cooking – Don’t boil more than 10 – 12 pierogis max in a large pot because they need room to bounce around. To cook lots, boil 10 – 12 at a time, scoop out and spread on a tray. Boil the next batch. Then just before serving, put them all back into the boiling water for 30 seconds to warm them back up. Drain, then toss in the butter sauce with a splash of the reserved cooking water.
Butter amount – You’ll need around 1 1/2 tbsp / 25g plus 2 tablespoons of the cooking water for 8 to 10 pierogis. For all 30, you’ll need around 70g / 4 1/2 tbsp butter and 1/3 cup water. You can eyeball it. Butter is not an exact science here!
5. Make ahead – Pierogis freeze 100% perfectly and can be boiled from frozen! Just add an extra 1 – 2 minutes to the cook time. Freeze in single layers in an airtight container. To save space, you can freeze them on a tray then bundle them into an airtight container.

Life of Dozer

Coming to you in real time! This is Dozer today, at a photography studio for a Christmas special edition of Good Food Australia with the A-team: Rob Palmer (photographer), Emma Knowles (food stylist), Theresa Klein (photo chef). Who ever imaged a discount dog would experience such things!!

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