Wondering what to do with cherry dumplings? Today you’ll learn how to cook cherry vareniki dumplings from frozen or fresh and how to serve them in a Ukrainian / Russian style meal. Let’s whip it up…
What are sour cherry vareniki?
They are basically sour cherry filled dumplings similar to ravioli. Most people know them as Ukrainian cherry vareniki or Russian vareniki with cherries.
The cherry pierogies (as they’re also called) used in this recipe are frozen cherry vareniki from Kachka Portland, a restaurant that sells their famous Lavka dish ready made at New Seasons grocery store. I was so thrilled when I walked in and saw these dumplings pre-made. I didn’t think twice before buying them.
Ingredients to make this dish
This dish with cherry dumplings is made with…
- A package of frozen cherry vareniki dumplings (about 14 oz)
- Salt
- Butter
- A splash of Champagne vinegar (substitute white wine vinegar)
- Sour cream
- Fresh basil
- Fresh cracked pepper
How to make cherry vareniki dumplings into a dish
- Bring water to a boil with a pinch of salt in a large pot on the stove. Add frozen cherry vareniki dumplings and boil for about 5 minutes until cooked through.
- Drain sour cherry vareniki. Then add cherry dumplings to a large bowl and add butter, champagne vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Gently mix together until butter melts.
- Transfer sour cherry pierogies to a serving dish. Top with sour cream, fresh basil, and a pinch of fresh cracked pepper. Serve immediately.
Try pan fried cherry dumplings, too
When dining at Kachka in Portland, I’ve had these same dumplings served pan fried. To finish them this way, add boiled dumplings to a frying pan with some butter and fry until they’re golden brown. The back of the Kachka package also recommends serving cherry dumplings with ice cream. Would you try that? I would!
Love cherries? Try this recipe for cherry pie turnovers with pie crust.
FAQs
You’ll have to look for premed cherry vareniki in local stores. I was so happy when I stepped into my local Oregon New Season’s and saw these frozen cherry vareniki from Katcha PDX, one of my favorite Portland lunch spots.
Yes, you can make a basic vareniky dough and use fresh or frozen bing cherries (pitted of course). It is a more involved process, but you can make them in a large batch and freeze them.
The gist of making vareniki dough is to start with sifted flour, knead the dough, whip out a rolling pin to make a thin sheet of pasta, cut out circles on a floured surface, stuff them with sour cherries, and seal them up. I skipped all that for this recipe and took a shortcut by buying them frozen pre-made but perhaps soon will post more from-scratch cherry vareniki recipes.
On the back of the Kachka Lavka package, they suggest using any fresh chopped herbs including basil, mint, and tarragon. I also recommend dill or parsley. In this recipe, the demonstration is with basil.
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Meat thermometer recommendations
Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly.
On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:
- Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
- ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill.
It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature.
How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.
While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!
Are you a foodie, too?
I think you’re going to love these sour cherry dumplings with sour cream and vinegar and basil. I know it may sound like a crazy flavor combination at first, but it totally works.
To see more of my favorite restaurant-style dishes, Portland lunch spots and features of the best restaurants in Portland, connect with me on Instagram @sipbitego. And for more deliciousness, subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel and see the full Sip Bite Go recipe collection.
Cherry Vareniki Dumplings Recipe With Frozen Cherry Pierogies | Sip Bite Go
Ingredients
- 14 oz 14 oz frozen cherry vareniki dumplings
- salt
- 2 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 2 tsp Champagne vinegar substitute white wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp Sour cream
- basil fresh
- Pepper fresh cracked
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil with a pinch of salt in a large pot on the stove. Add frozen cherry vareniki dumplings and boil for about 5 minutes until cooked through.
- Drain sour cherry vareniki. Then add cherry dumplings to a large bowl and add butter, champagne vinegar, and a pinch of salt. Gently mix together until butter melts.
- Transfer sour cherry pierogies to a serving dish. Top with sour cream, fresh basil, and a pinch of fresh cracked pepper. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- This recipe uses frozen cherry vareniki, but you can make them from scratch by first making fresh vareniki dough then filling them with sour cherries and shaping them.
- What herbs go with sour cherry dumplings? Try any fresh chopped herbs including basil, mint, and tarragon.
- You can pan fry these, too! Add boiled dumplings to a frying pan with some butter and fry until they’re golden brown.
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