Vareniki with Cherries (Sweet Ukrainian Dumplings)

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour 400 g (plus 10 g for dusting)
• Water, cold 180 ml
• Egg 1 large (50 g)
• Sunflower oil 1 tbsp
• Salt 0.5 tsp (3 g), plus 1 tsp for the boiling water
• Sour cherries, pitted (fresh or frozen and thawed) 600 g
• Sugar, for the filling 6 tbsp (75 g)
• Potato starch or cornstarch 1 tbsp (10 g)
• Sour cream (20% fat), to serve 200 g
• Sugar, to serve 2 tbsp (25 g)
• Water, for boiling 3 l

Instructions

1. 1

   Mix the flour, cold water, egg, oil and 3 g of salt into a smooth, firm dough, knead for 5 minutes, cover and rest for 30 minutes.

2. 2

   Put the pitted cherries in a sieve over a bowl for 20 minutes so the free juice drains off; keep the juice for a drink or compote.

3. 3

   Roll the dough out 1.5-2 mm thick on a floured surface and cut circles 7-8 cm across.

4. 4

   Put 3-4 cherries on each circle, add about 1/2 tsp of the filling sugar mixed with the starch, fold in half and pinch the edges firmly shut.

5. 5

   Bring 3 l of water with 1 tsp of salt to a boil and cook the vareniki in batches for 3-4 minutes after they float.

6. 6

   Lift them out with a slotted spoon, shake off the water and lay them on a plate in one layer so they do not stick.

7. 7

   Serve warm, sprinkled with the remaining sugar, with sour cream on the side.