Venison Pirogues!

[ThunderLund78]

It was a busy weekend but made some great stuff.  Capped it off with this really good recipe from Field & Stream's "The Wild Chef" cookbook.  I got it for Christmas a couple of years ago and just hadn't gotten around to trying anything from it yet.  This was a winner, I'm glad I did. Very simple, too. I made these in two batches and the recipe below reflects a few changes I made on the second round that seem to make it work a little easier, so it's not verbatim to the book. But it worked better for me:

Stuffing:
1 TB - butter
1 whole onion
1/2 lb - ground venison
Salt/pepper to taste

Dough:
2-1/2 cups Flour
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup water

For the filling - sauté the onion in the butter until translucent, add venison and cook until browned.  Salt and pepper and set aside to cool.

For the dough - in a large bowl, add the flour, make a depression in the mound of flour and crack the eggs into the hole.  Cut the eggs into the flour with a pastry cutter until crumbly.  Add the salt and water and knead until firm - this will be sticky! Let the dough rest in a warm spot (or under a warm towel) for 10 min. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until thin.  Cut rounds with a big glass (4" - 5" diameter).  Place a small amount of filling in the middle of each round and fold-over, sealing the edges well.  Boil the pirogues in salted water for 4 minutes and remove with a slotted spoon. You can either refrigerate/freeze them or cook immediately.  When ready to cook, melt a few pads of butter in a pan over medium heat and fry the pirogues until they have a golden brown crust.  Serve with beefy gravy (just a jar of the store bought stuff worked great). ENJOY!

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[Rebel SS]

TL, can you PLEASE stop this now?!?! I can't take much more.....

[mike89]

you sir are killing it!!!!   that is so good looking!!!!   I need to move over that way!!!  where ever it is!!!

[Boar]

om TL, I PERSONALLY INVITE U TO ICE APALOOZA, AS THE HEAD COOK!

[Rebel SS]

I'll second; motion carried!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  All in favor, say "aye" !"

[gophergunner]

Where I grew up in northeast ohio, pierogis are a big church dish.  Lots of churches mad them on Fridays as a fund raiser and sold them in the church dining room and/or for carry out.  Those were stuffed with potatoes or cabbage usually.  I like this twist on an old dish.  Gonna have to give these a try.

[ThunderLund78]

om TL, I PERSONALLY INVITE U TO ICE APALOOZA, AS THE HEAD COOK!

If it means I drink for free, I'M IN!

[Coffee118]

Those are some very tasty looking Polish pies there. Yes gophergunner, living here in Pittsburgh they are a staple during lent and nothing better than church pierogies with a fried fish sandwich. The best are the cheese potato smothered with butter and onions or sour kraut. I've made a few stuffed with BBQ pulled pork and buffalo chicken.

[Rebel SS]

OK, you guys are pushing me over da edge.....

[glenn57]

OK, you guys are pushing me over da edge.....

need a little help!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Reinhard]

Thunder I love it!!!  No venison here but I'll do it with beef.  Thanks for the recipe and the post.  good luck.

[corny13]

Kinda like a Latvian Pirozhki!   My favorite food ever.  My college Russian professor's wife made for me with ground venison.  They also had about 1/3 chopped bacon with the ground venison and onion.  Pirozhki are baked instead of boiled (pirogues) polish.
Making me hungry!!

[ThunderLund78]

Kinda like a Latvian Pirozhki!   My favorite food ever.  My college Russian professor's wife made for me with ground venison.  They also had about 1/3 chopped bacon with the ground venison and onion.  Pirozhki are baked instead of boiled (pirogues) polish.
Making me hungry!!

That's interesting, Corney -
I'm 1/2 Latvian.  My mother was born there and immigrated with my Grandparents and two uncles after WW2 - there's some great stories to tell, there.  My Grandpa was a forest ranger in Latvia when the war was going on and they had to deal with both Russian and German troops moving through their farm.  They got while the gettin' was good, refugee camps, etc.  But they made it.

My Aunt makes baked breaded bites stuffed with onion and bacon but we always called them "Pee Dogs" which  sounds gross, but it was an english bastardization of Pir - rog or "Pirogue"  It's all similar.

[corny13]

Drinks are free if you bring Pirozhki to Iceopolusa....    Don't forget to add BACON!!!