Eastern Europe’s beloved stuffed dumplings, known as varenyky or perogies, are the humble kings of the Ukrainian home kitchen. Sweet and salty fillings wrapped in pillowy dough, their predecessors likely came to Ukraine along the Silk Road from Central Asia and China, exploding in popularity and variety when combined with the rich and diverse agriculture of the chornozem (black earth). There are thousands of regional specialties and although they’re just one small part of the dynamic landscape of contemporary Ukrainian cuisine, these unassuming dumplings nevertheless have a place of honour at Perogie Lili.