Many people then use a glass to cut circles out of the dough. Whatever filling you want to add to the pierogi then goes in the middle of each circle and it is folded together. To cook them, people put pierogi into boiling water and when they float, they are ready!
Pierogi was traditionally a peasant dish, eventually gaining popularity to become the national dish of Poland. You find this dish weaved into every cultural experience in Poland, with many street stands selling it, and nearly every restaurant having its own take on the traditional recipes. Due to its traditional background, pierogi ingredients are often made from very locally sourced foods. The first pierogi that I had was made from potatoes that the teacher had grown herself! For Christmas, she has already offered that I come to try the traditional pierogi that contains chicken raised by her father. These locally sourced ingredients make many pierogi a sustainable meal tied deeply to the local environment and identity of Poland.
