Suszone Sliwki: Polish Prune Pierogi Filling
This recipe crafts Suszone Sliwki, a classic Polish prune filling for pierogi. Softened prunes are combined with sugar, lemon, and warming spices like cinnamon and cloves, creating a sweet and tangy, deeply flavored mixture perfect for traditional dumplings or other pastries.
Equipment
- 1 Small Saucepan
- 1 Slotted Spoon
- 1 Paring Knife For pitting prunes
- 1 Potato masher or fork For mashing prunes
- 1 Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
Main
- 20 prunes with pits, for flavor
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves ground
Instructions
- Place prunes and the cinnamon stick in a small saucepan, covering them with water.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15-20 minutes until the prunes are very tender.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and, using a slotted spoon, transfer the softened prunes to a bowl, reserving a few tablespoons of the cooking liquid.
- Allow the prunes to cool slightly, then carefully pit each prune using a paring knife.
- Return the pitted prunes to the saucepan.
- Add sugar, lemon juice, and ground cloves to the prunes.
- Using a potato masher or fork, mash the prunes to your desired chunky or smooth consistency.
- If the mixture is too dry, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved cooking liquid to reach the desired texture.
- Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Allow the prune filling to cool completely before using it to fill pierogi or other pastries.
Notes
To deepen the aromatic profile, lightly toast the whole cinnamon stick in a dry pan for a minute before adding to the prunes. The ground cloves naturally complement the prunes, enhancing their rich sweetness. When pitting the prunes, a small paring knife works best; ensure all pits are removed for a safe and pleasant texture. Adjust sugar and lemon juice to balance the sweetness and acidity based on the natural sweetness of your prunes. The goal is a rich, sweet-tart filling. For pierogi, the filling should be thick enough to handle, not watery, achieving a consistency that can be chunky or smooth as preferred.