Vareniki with Duck, Ghee Butter, and Thyme

Vareniki, our most beloved and traditional dish of Ukrainian cuisine. Everyone, from the young to the old, loves vareniki. It is both a daily and festive dish, with a variety of fillings. Sweet ones with cherries or strawberries, or heartier ones with meat or fish. And here is a wonderful recipe for vareniki with duck, ghee butter, and thyme. You will surely fall in love with it!

Vareniki are great because you can make them ahead of time and freeze them. From time to time, you can treat your loved ones and yourself to this delightful treat.

Vareniki with Duck, Ghee Butter, and Thyme

Today, I want to share one of my vareniki recipes. This is the recipe for vareniki with duck, ghee butter, and thyme. They can confidently be considered the main dish on the table!

Difficulty Level: Medium

Calories: 300

Cooking Time: 50 min

Servings: 4 person

Ingredients:

Ingredients for the dough:

500 g Dough
150 g Ghee butter
5-6 sprigs Thyme

For the filling:

1 kg Duck
3-4 onions
10 g Thyme
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Olive oil

Instructions:

Preparation of the filling:

Check the duck for any remaining feathers.
Rub the duck with ghee, salt, pepper, and thyme leaves. Place peeled onions inside the duck.
Roast at 160°C (320°F) for 2 to 2.5 hours, covered with foil.
Let the duck cool down and remove the meat from the bones.
Shred the meat, season with salt and pepper, and mix well, adding some duck fat.

Preparation of ghee with thyme:

Add thyme sprigs to the ghee and simmer on the lowest heat for 20-30 minutes.

Making the vareniki:

Divide the dough into 2-3 equal parts, rolling each part into a circle about 1-1.5 mm thick. Use a round cutter or a glass to cut out circles from the dough.
Fill each circle with the duck filling and seal the edges.
Place the finished vareniki on a floured surface.
Cook the vareniki in salted boiling water. Boil until they float, about 5-7 minutes.
Serve the cooked vareniki in plates and drizzle with the ghee butter. Enjoy!