I didn’t grow up in a household that watched many sports – we went through phases and it was usually with either Hockey or Basketball and certainly not Football. Fast forward to being married to (what seems like) the #1 Football fan. I’m talking in-person fantasy drafts, constantly making trades in a fantasy league, hoping to win (a real actual) championship belt and of course, the Superbowl.
Each year, I know that I am not doing anything on that Sunday – and if my birthday happens to fall on Superbowl Sunday, I better have my own plans for the evening! I usually end up heading over to a friend’s place solo where we’ve all gathered – all the couples and me. We use the game as an excuse to hang out and watch the half-time show while my other half heads to a big party with lots of people and lots of food.
This year, that’s is obviously not happening. It’s the first (and hopefully the last) time that it will be this way. Over the years, I have somewhat learnt the game, teams, players and even participated (and was #1) in a fantasy league myself. No – I am not a super-fan. I think I just lucked out and then fell straight to the bottom when playoffs began! What this Sunday really means is that I better get excited to enjoy the game – because if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
The easiest way for me to get pumped is obviously to see how I can make everything a little nicer, elevate the experience and of course, get a menu set. We’ve planned out the snacks, the pizza, the wings but I also thought we could add a little something extra. I got my hands on these delicious Chef’s Halal pierogies in two different flavours – Cheddar Cheese & Beef Bits and, Potato, Onion & Beef Bits. I gave them a little bit of a game-day twist by incorporating some buffalo wing sauce and a crunchy texture. See my video below and instructions below that.
For the Pierogies:
For the classic version, you will only need:
- Frozen halal pierogies
- Butter to pan fry
Follow package directions to boil in water for 7-8 minutes until they rise to the top. Pan fry to finish off with a crispy outer layer
For the breaded version, you will need:
- Frozen halal pierogies
- 1 egg
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 Tbsp. dried Basil
- 1 Tbsp. Parmesan
- 1 Tbsp. Chili Flakes
Preheat your oven to 425°.
To the breadcrumbs, add spices and parmesan. Whisk to incorporate. In a separate bowl, whisk one egg. Dip your frozen pierogi into the egg and then into the breadcrumbs to coat generously. Place on a lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. If you would like them a little browner, brush or spray the tops with some olive oil and broil for 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye on this to ensure they don’t burn.
It’s as easy as that. Serve both or either with Sour Cream, Buffalo Hot sauce or mix the two for a tart yet spicy dip (recipe below)
For the Sauce, you will need:
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 3 Tbsp. buffalo wing sauce
Add Sour Cream to a bowl with buffalo wing sauce and mix until combined. Add more sour cream to tone down the spice level or more wing sauce to increase the heat.
Tasneem Dasoo 