These homemade vareniki are the ultimate freezer-friendly comfort food: tender, hand-pinched dough wrapped around three irresistible fillings — savory potato with mushrooms, sweet cottage cheese, and seasoned ground meat. Make a big batch on a lazy weekend, freeze them on a tray, and you will always have a hearty homemade dinner ready in minutes. If you love stuffed, shareable comfort dishes, try our Crispy Lavash Pies with Chicken and Cheese or the Melt-in-Your-Mouth Braised Beef with Onions; potato lovers will also enjoy the Potato Crust Pie with Cherry Tomatoes and Cheese.
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 200 ml (3/4 cup + 1 tbsp) boiling water
- 1 egg
- 550 g (4 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 90 g (6 tbsp) vegetable oil
- Pinch of salt
Filling 1 – potato mushroom:
- 500 g (1.1 lb) potatoes, boiled and mashed
- 1 onion, sauteed
- 50 g (1.8 oz) mushrooms, sauteed
Filling 2 – sweet cheese:
- 250 g (9 oz) cottage cheese
- 1 tbsp sugar
Filling 3 – meat:
- 400 g (14 oz) ground meat
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pour the boiling water into a bowl, add the oil and 2 tablespoons of flour, and stir. Beat in the egg, then add the remaining flour and knead into a smooth, elastic dough.
- Prepare the three fillings: mix mashed potatoes with sauteed mushrooms and onion; blend cottage cheese with sugar; season the ground meat with salt and pepper.
- Roll out the dough, cut out circles, and place a teaspoon of filling on each. Seal the edges firmly.
- Boil in salted water for 5 minutes after they float to the surface.
Tips
- Freeze the vareniki on a floured tray before bagging so they do not stick together — they keep well for up to 3 months. See freezer storage guidance at USDA for safe storage times.
- Seal the edges firmly with a pinch or a fork crimp so the filling does not escape during boiling; a dab of water on the rim helps the dough stick. Find more dumpling-shaping technique ideas at Serious Eats.
- Boil in well-salted water and do not overcrowd the pot — cook in batches so the vareniki float freely.
Nutrition per 100 g: 260 kcal, protein 15 g, fat 7 g, carbs 12 g.