Beef Pirozhki

4.8
(20)

I once worked as a bike messenger in San Francisco (switching over to a scooter after 2 days). The money wasn't great, so for lunch I'd get a beef pirozhki from one of those sketchy delis in the back of big city corner stores. They only cost 2 bucks, delivered a ridiculously high number of calories, and even though I knew it wasn't the healthiest thing to eat, I grew to love the taste. So, for this recipe, I set out to recapture that experience.

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Prep Time:
45 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr 20 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
15
Yield:
15 pirozhki
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Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F, 45 degrees C)

  • 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

  • 2 teaspoons white sugar

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed

  • ½ teaspoon oil, or as needed

For the Beef Filling:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 1 large onion, finely diced

  • 2 pounds ground beef

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste

  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 teaspoons dried dill weed

  • cup chicken broth

  • ¼ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (Optional)

  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (Optional)

  • vegetable oil for frying

Directions

  1. Combine 1 scant cup of warm milk and yeast in a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Let sit until foamy and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Add sugar, salt, egg, butter, and almost all of the flour, holding back a small amount in case dough gets too dry.

  2. Knead in the mixer until dough is soft and supple. Scrape dough onto your work surface. Grease the bowl with a few drops of oil and place dough back in. Cover bowl and let dough rise in a warm spot until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

  3. In the meantime, heat olive oil and butter in a pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, ground beef, and garlic. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Cook beef, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until evenly browned, about 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.

  4. Stir dill into the beef mixture. Add chicken broth and stir, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let mixture cool for 10 minutes. Stir in Cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese. Let filling cool completely.

  5. Transfer dough to a work surface. Press out air bubbles. Pinch off a piece of dough and form into a ball; press into a disc. Dust with a minimal amount of flour and roll into a circle about 1/8-inch thick and 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Dip your finger in water and dampen the edges of the circle.

  6. Place dough circle in 1 hand and add a few tablespoons of the beef filling. Pinch edges together to seal. Place pirozhki on the table seam-side up and pinch off any excess dough; too much dough will make it hard to fry. Moisten the center of the seam with water. Fold the 2 ends inward and flip pirozhki over, seam-side down; press down lightly.

  7. Form the remaining pirozhki and let them rest until dough rises slightly, 15 to 20 minutes.

  8. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Fry pirozhki in batches, seam-side down, until golden brown, about 90 seconds. Flip and fry until browned on the other side, about 90 seconds more. Drain on paper towels and cool for a few minutes.

Chef's Notes

I'm not sure the amount of filling will match the amount of dough, but if you have extra of either, both can be frozen until next time.

Feel free to substitute water for the chicken broth. You can mix the dough by hand too.

Editor's Note:

We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. Amount will vary depending on cooking time and temperature, ingredient density, and specific type of oil used.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

293 Calories
16g Fat
22g Carbs
14g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 15
Calories 293
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 6g 31%
Cholesterol 59mg 20%
Sodium 486mg 21%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 14g 29%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 57mg 4%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 184mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.