Vareniki Made with Whey

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make vareniki with whey? Let's gather the ingredients.

2. Step 2:

   

   Rinse the chicken livers well, cover them with water, and set them to cook.

3. Step 3:

   

   Now for the dough. Sift the flour.

4. Step 4:

   

   Add the salt and baking soda.

5. Step 5:

   

   Stir everything together well with a spoon.

6. Step 6:

   

   Mix the whey with the water and pour it into the flour in parts, stirring with a spoon.

7. Step 7:

   

   Start kneading with a spoon, then switch to your hands. Knead by hand for at least 6-7 minutes.

8. Step 8:

   

   You end up with a very smooth, tender, supple dough — you won't even need to flour the counter when rolling it out. Let the dough rest a bit while we make the filling.

9. Step 9:

   

   Dice the onion.

10. Step 10:

    

    Sauté it in a skillet until golden.

11. Step 11:

    

    Run the cooked, cooled livers through a meat grinder.

12. Step 12:

    

    Run the onion through the meat grinder too. Season with salt and pepper to taste. I also add khmeli-suneli (a Georgian herb blend) for flavor.

13. Step 13:

    

    Roll out the dough 1-1.5 mm thick; dust the counter with flour for insurance if you like. Cut out rounds with a glass.

14. Step 14:

    

    Put a spoonful of filling on each round.

15. Step 15:

    

    Fold over and pinch the edges to seal each varenik.

16. Step 16:

    

    Shape all the vareniki the same way.

17. Step 17:

    

    Bring a pot of water to a boil and add salt, the bay leaves, and the sunflower oil. Drop the vareniki into the boiling water and gently stir right away so they don't stick to the bottom. Once it returns to a boil, cook for 5 minutes.

18. Step 18:

    

    Lift them out into a bowl with a slotted spoon.

19. Step 19:

    

    Serve hot with sour cream. Enjoy!