Shorcut Perogies with Marry Me Sauce
These Shortcut Perogies with Marry Me Sauce are guaranteed to win over your heart this Valentine's Day! These adorable Polish dumplings are filled with a shortcut mashed potato, cheddar and onion filling, then smothered in a creamy, dreamy Tuscan-style sauce. Perfect for an at-home date night and truly worthy of a proposal!
Equipment
- digital kitchen scale (optional)
- 2 large bowls
- cheese grater
- fork
- plastic wrap
- Rolling Pin
- 3" circle or heart-shaped cookie cutter
- large pot
- large pan
- slotted spoon
- spatula
Ingredients
For the Shortcut Perogies:
- 2 cups all purpose flour (240g)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large egg
- ⅓-½ cup warm water
- 1 package Idahoan Four Cheese Mashed Potatoes (4oz)
- 10 oz boiling water
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- ½ large yellow onion finely diced
- 2 oz freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp butter
For the Marry Me Sauce:
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup chicken broth or stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- red pepper flakes to taste
- 1.25 oz freshly & finely grated parmesan cheese
- ½ tbsp arrowroot starch or cornstarch
- 3 oz baby spinach roughly chopped
Instructions
For the Shortcut Perogies:
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour and the salt. Then, make a well in the center and add in the oil and egg. Use a fork to whisk together the eggs and oil and then start combining it into the flour. While stirring, slowly pour in ⅓ cup of water. Continue adding the remaining water as needed until a shaggy dough forms.2 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 large egg, ⅓-½ cup warm water, 2 tbsp olive oil
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for about 5 minutes until it's soft and smooth. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This will make it easier to roll out and work with so don't skip it!
- While the dough is resting, you can prepare your pierogi filling. In a large bowl, use a fork to mix together the boiling water and the instant mashed potatoes. Set aside to let cool.1 package Idahoan Four Cheese Mashed Potatoes, 10 oz boiling water
- Bring a large pan to medium heat. Once hot, add a bit of oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Then, add diced onion and kosher salt. Saute, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes or until translucent. Remove onions from pan and add them to the bowl with the mashed potatoes.½ large yellow onion, ½ tbsp olive oil
- Next, add the cheddar cheese and season with salt & pepper to taste. Stir with a spatula to combine. Set aside.2 oz freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, kosher salt & black pepper
- Once the pierogi dough has rested, divide it into two and roll out one of them to ⅛" thin on a lightly floured surface. Keep the other half wrapped in plastic until you're ready to use it so that it doesn't dry out. Use a 3" circle or heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the dough. Repeat with the remaining half of the dough - you should get about 40 total, depending how thick/thin your dough was.
- If you're making them heart shaped: Add 2 tsp of the pierogi filling to the middle of the dough heart and press down slightly to spread it out in a heart shape. Then, place another dough heart on top and cinch the edges closed with your fingers (or a fork). You will have leftover filling if you're making hearts, since it requires double the dough.
- If you're making traditional perogies: Add 2 tsp of the pierogi filling to the middle of the dough circle and press down slightly. Then fold it in half and cinch the edges closed with your fingers (or a fork). You will most likely use up all of the filling, and you may want to make a double batch of the marry me sauce.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, gently add some of the pierogis (I recommend cooking them in batches to prevent sticking). Cook them for about 4-5 minutes total - they should be floating to the top. Remove them from the pot with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel lined plate.
- At this point you can add the perogies to the sauce, or pan fry them to add a crispy texture (I prefer this). To pan fry them, bring a large pan to medium heat. Then, add 1 tbsp of butter. Once melted, add perogies and cook until golden on each side, about 3 minutes per side (you may have to do this in two batches, adding more butter as needed).2 tbsp butter
For the Marry Me Sauce:
- If the pan does not have much excess butter in it, add a bit more butter or oil. Then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, then add in the heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes and spices.3 garlic cloves, 1 cup chicken broth or stock, 1 cup heavy cream, ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, ½ tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp dried oregano, red pepper flakes
- Increase heat to bring it up to a gentle boil. Then, reduce heat to medium-low, add in the parmesan and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper.1.25 oz freshly & finely grated parmesan cheese, kosher salt & black pepper
- In a small bowl mix together the arrowroot/cornstarch with ½ tbsp of water to create a slurry. Add this slurry to the pan while stirring constantly. Then allow the sauce to simmer for a few more minutes until thickened. If you want it thicker, add more arrrowroot/cornstarch, and if it becomes too thick, you can thin it out with more chicken broth.½ tbsp arrowroot starch or cornstarch
- Add in the spinach and stir until wilted. Finally, add in the cooked perogies and toss them in the sauce. Optionally, garnish with fresh chopped parmesan or basil & more red pepper flakes. Enjoy!3 oz baby spinach
Video
Notes
NUTRITION INFO: Unfortunately, the nutrition information cannot be accurately calculated for this recipe since it depends whether you're making them heart-shaped or normal. If you're doing the heart-shaped version, you will have a decent amount of filling that goes unused. And if you're making them the traditional shape, you will most likely use up all the filling and need to double the amount of marry me sauce.