Vegan piroshki

(photo taken in 2009 of some meat filled piroshki I made)

Today I made some vegan piroshki and a poppy seed roll inspired by this article.

A recipe for Piroshki (a traditional Russian bread stuffed with vegetables or meat...since it's Great Lent, we are fasting, trying out best to not eat any animal products, basically vegan):

7 c. unbleached flour

2 T dry yeast

½ c. vegetable oil (I used olive oil)

2 T. sugar (I used honey)

1–1 1/2 t. salt

2 c. water

1/2 t. Ground cardamom (optional....I did use this!!!)

Mix flour with yeast, salt, and cardamom. Add warm water, oil; mix and knead the dough until it no longer sticks to your hands. It should be soft and well mixed. Cover with a towel and let rise to double in size, punch down and begin forming the pies.

I roll my dough out with a rolling pin, then use my round cookie cutter, about 3" around to cut a nice shape out, dab a little water around the edges, to help it seal, after filling...

Fillings for piroshki can be either sweet or savory. Here are some ideas: cabbage, or potato, carrots, sautéed mushrooms with onion. For sweet ones: any kind of jam, nuts, or dried fruit.

Let the individual pies rise again, then bake in medium oven for about a half hour or until done.