Dumplings are a sort of like people – they come in all shapes and sizes and can be attributed to various cultures all around the world.

The Chinese have potstickers and the Italian’s have ravioli. The Poles? We have Pierogi. And if you’ve never tried pierogi, now is a good time to start because October 8th is National Pierogi Day!

Commonly considered to be the national dish of Poland, pierogi are made of a thinly rolled dough and can be filled with the a variety of ingredients. Popular savory fillings include potato and cheese (pierogi ruskie) and sauerkraut (pierogi z kapustą kwaszoną). Sweeter variations embrace seasonal fruits such as apples and cinnamon (pierogi z jabłkami i cynamonem) or blueberries (pierogi z jagodami).

Stay tuned for a recipe. In the meantime, celebrate the humble pierog by trekking over to Greenpoint where there is never a shortage of the dish. Who knows. You might even run into the elusive pieorgi mascot* while you’re there.

RECIPE UPDATE: Apple-Cinnamon Pierogi