Sinfully Good: Pierogi Casserole

Pierogie Casserole

Pierogie Casserole

Today is one of those dreary Fall days where it’s cold and rainy and I’m in need of a little pick me up from some classic comfort food. One that involves BACON. And CHEESE. And PASTA. And all those yummy yums that aren’t that good for you. I was looking through some of my family recipes and this one came up that looked perfect for the mood I’m in today. It’s a sinfully good baked Pierogi casserole that my family used to make around the holidays – I remember sitting around the table with my family devouring this tasty dish with absolutely no shame. It’s not fancy. It’s easy to make. Has layers of flavor from the crispy bacon, earthy mushrooms, creamy sauce and tangy sauerkraut. And it’s so darn GOOD.

Traditional Pierogies are like Polish or Ukrainian Ravioli, made with fresh made dough that is filled with potatoes and cheese, meat or sauerkraut, and usually boiled or sauteed in butter with golden brown fried onions. This recipe takes the main ingredients of Pierogi (butter, mushrooms, sauerkraut, bacon, fried onions, pasta and cheese) and blends them together into a bubbling baked one-pot dish of goodness you’re gonna die for. It’s the ultimate comfort food perfect for a chilly dreary day that will keep you coming back for more…trust me.

Sinfully Good: Pierogi Casserole

Yield: 8

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. spiral pasta or Girelle (little spiral tops)
  • 6-8 strips bacon, fried and crumbled
  • 1 large sweet onion (Vidalia), chopped
  • 1 stick (8 ounces) butter, divided
  • 4 oz. fresh mushrooms, chopped
  • 1-14 ounce package sauerkraut, rinsed well
  • 2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
  • 1 cup 2% milk
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • Fresh ground pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Boil pasta 7-9 minutes and drain, set aside.
  3. In a large saute pan, fry bacon over medium heat about 6-8 minutes until crispy, drain and crumble, set aside.
  4. Sauté onions in same saute pan with 1/2 stick of butter for another 7-8 minutes until soft and translucent. Remove from pan and set aside.
  5. Add the other 1/2 stick of butter and and sauté mushrooms about 8 minutes until tender.
  6. Stir all ingredients together in large mixing bowl, adding soup and 2% milk, sauerkraut, sautéed onions and mushrooms, shredded cheese, and fresh ground pepper to taste.
  7. Pour mixture over cooked pasta into a greased rectangle casserole dish, mix thoroughly and cover with foil.
  8. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 mins.
  9. Remove foil and turn up oven to 500 degrees, bake for another 5-10 minutes until top gets golden brown.
  10. Let cool before serving.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/10/sinfully-good-pierogi-casserole/

Bacon

Fry the bacon until crispy.

Saute Mushrooms

Saute the mushrooms in some butter until soft and golden.

Bacon with Mixture

Mix together crumbled bacon, sauteed mushrooms, sauerkraut, mushroom soup, milk and black pepper, stir.

Mixture

Add the shredded cheese and mix together well. Pour over cooked noodles in the casserole dish and stir it all together.

Pierogie Casserole

Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes at 375. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes on 500 until it gets crispy and golden on top. Let cool.

Devour.

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Other recipes you may enjoy:

All Recipes Pierogi Casserole

How Sweet Eats Pierogi Casserole

Kraft Easy Pierogi Casserole

2nd Annual Anti-Gala Benefit Dinner & Speakeasy Party on October 15th 2013 featuring acclaimed guest chef Gabrielle Hamilton of Prune Restaurant

 
 

Lowline Anti-Gala & Speakeasy

On October 15th, Neuman’s Kitchen will collaborate in the exciting production of the 2nd Annual Lowline Anti-Gala Benefit Dinner and Speakeasy After Party. Neuman’s Kitchen is working in conjunction with renowned chef and author Gabrielle Hamilton from Prune Restaurant to create a magical Anti-Gala event to raise funds with a live auction to support the planned conversion of the former underground trolley terminal into a public park below Manhattan’s Delancey Street on the Lower East Side.

Neuman's Kitchen

Neuman’s Kitchen is a 32 year old award-winning catering and event firm located on the Lower East Side, known for its beautifully designed events, elegant menus and attentive service. Neuman’s Kitchen supports numerous community service programs and is proud to be involved in supporting the Lowline and LES community through this special event.

The Lowline would be New York’s first subterranean park and would utilize innovative solar technology to bring sunlight to the cavernous interior. The concept was developed by Dan Barasch and James Ramsey – with a goal of giving New Yorkers a peaceful, green underground space.  The Lowline project is still in early stages of fundraising and development and with the help of Neuman’s Kitchen and the other supporting partners and patrons, the Anti-Gala and Speakeasy Event will be another step towards raising funds and building awareness and support for this groundbreaking city project.

Angel Orensanz
Angel Orensanz

The event will be held at the beautiful and historic Angel Orensanz Center at 172 Norfolk Street, the oldest surviving former Gothic Revival synagogue in New York. The venue is the perfect spot with its rich details and design, adding drama to this spectacular gala.

Chef Gabrielle Hamilton and Chef Julian Alonzo
Chef Gabrielle Hamilton and Chef Julian Alonzo

Inspired by menus and designs from 1908, the year the trolley terminal opened, Chefs Hamilton and Alonzo collaborated to prepare a spectacular menu for the 7 pm cocktail hour and seated 4-course plated dinner reminiscent of the early century era. Turtle soup, consommé, fresh cherrystone clams, broiled mackerel, poached stuffed chicken breasts, French peas, Duchess potatoes and tinned white asparagus are just a few of the tantalizing items on the menu, concluding with delightful Crème de Menthe parfaits for dessert to dazzle your taste buds.

The event is going to be a major avant-garde production and will have interactive entertainment throughout the evening provided by Vance Garrett Productions. Look forward to a thrilling and surprising experience to remember. Guests will be transported back to the early 20th century with the gorgeous antique décor and design by Broadway Party Rentals, Props for Today and ZAK Events: vintage silver trays, carved crystal goblets, fine white china and antique linens will top the tables and serve the splendid food and cocktails.  To add to the ambiance and excitement, there will be a live auction and three dramatic acts of live entertainment throughout the night reminiscent of the era – you’ll see contortionists, street performers and dancers, servers dressed up in 1908 clothing, stilt walkers and more.

Morgan O'Kane
Morgan O’Kane

Guests will also get to experience a miniature trolley car in the cocktail lounge on the balcony with the talented Virginia-based musician and live performer Morgan O’Kane, who will be strumming his banjo and playing music of the era inside the car. And to wrap up the evening, the Speakeasy After Party will start at 10 pm until midnight where you’ll get to see more entertaining acts and sample smashing classic cocktails provided by Absolut Vodka and a Punch Bar.

For more information on the event contact Amanda Weidel, Special Events Planner at Neuman’s Kitchen – 212.228.2444 or a.weidel@neumanskitchen.com.

Read more about the Anti Gala & Speakeasy: http://www.thelowline.org/get-involved/anti-gala/

Tickets can be purchased online at www.thelowline.org/antigala

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