Постные Пирожки с Капустой — Fasting Cabbage Pies

These small hand pies filled with braised cabbage are the pride of Russian fasting baking. The
dough uses no eggs, no butter, no milk — just flour, water, yeast, and a little oil — and it
produces soft, pillowy pirozhki that rival any enriched dough. Make a big batch and freeze them.

FASTING LEVEL: Fast With Oil (for strict oil-free days, these are difficult to adapt — consider making them on an oil-permitted day and eating leftovers)

SERVINGS: 16-18 pirozhki
TIME: 2 hours (including dough rising)

INGREDIENTS:
For the dough:
- 500 g all-purpose flour
- 250 ml warm water
- 7 g instant yeast (1 packet)
- 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt

For the filling:
- 700 g cabbage (about half a medium head), shredded
- 2 medium onions, diced
- 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste

For finishing:
- Sunflower oil for brushing
- Strong sweet tea for brushing (gives a golden colour without egg wash)

METHOD:
1. Make the dough: Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water. Let stand 5 minutes until foamy. Add oil, salt, and flour. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
2. Make the filling: Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes. Add shredded cabbage, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on medium-low for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is very soft and lightly golden. Add tomato paste if using. Let cool completely.
3. Punch down the dough and divide into 16-18 equal pieces. Roll each piece into an oval about 3 mm thick.
4. Place a generous spoonful of filling on one half, fold over, and pinch the edges firmly to seal. Shape into a neat oval.
5. Place seam-side down on a lined baking sheet. Let rest 15 minutes.
6. Brush with strong sweet tea (or a mix of tea and oil). Bake at 190C (375F) for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
7. Brush baked pirozhki lightly with oil while still hot for a soft crust.

NOTES:
- The sweet tea brush is a classic fasting baker's trick — it gives beautiful golden colour without egg wash.
- These freeze exceptionally well. Reheat from frozen in a 180C oven for 15 minutes.
- For extra protein, add 200 g of cooked chopped mushrooms or a handful of toasted walnuts to the cabbage filling.
- You can also fry these in oil instead of baking for a more indulgent result.

NUTRITION (per pirozhok, approximate):
Calories: 170 | Protein: 4 g | Carbohydrates: 27 g | Fat: 5 g | Fibre: 2 g