I’d like to officially make Wednesdays my hump day treat to you, which means I will solely be speaking on everyone’s favorite topic…FOOD. More specifically, I’ll be addressing Polish/ Colombian foods and giving you insight on their unique salivary "Sabor" (Flavor), that are the foundation of modern European and Latin cuisine.
The Latin empanada and European pierogi are both dumpling-like pockets with various types of fillings. I will give you descriptions on both and then it’s up to you to decide which one is better!
The Colombian Empanada
There are many different kinds of empanadas, but the way Colombians (and Venezuelans) like to make theirs are with corn flour- which is then fried, giving it that yellow crispy outer shell. They are most commonly stuffed with ground beef (you can do chicken too), potatoes, and onions. They also make a vegetarian option that consist of just potatoes, onions, red bell peppers, and tomatoes.
Best recipe to try: http://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/colombian-empanadas-empanadas-colombianas
The Polish Pierogi
Like the empanadas there are different kinds of pierogies. Traditional Polish pierogies are stuffed with mushrooms, onions, and sauerkraut. I personally eat those every year on Christmas eve as a Polish tradition (I will post more about this in a later blog). My favorite (and the most popular) pierogies are “ruskie” (Russian) pierogies, which are made with potato, cheese, and onion. Other pierogies are made with meat and onion, but can also be made with fruits like blueberries and strawberries (I’m personally not a fan of the fruity ones).
Best recipe to try: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/84706/grandmas-polish-perogies/
*Tip: Make the filling the night before to cut the time. Also, I like to sauté my pierogies with olive oil, bacon, and onion once they are all cooked. Serve it with sour cream- total game changer.
In my house there’s no competition between the two. Given that they are my favorite food staples from both countries, a bowl of each is not uncommon at the casa de Carolina. Give them a try!