Russian Apricot Jam Slice (Пирог из дрожжевого теста с вареньем) is an easy rustic pie, and works best with sweet, juicy, ripe apricots. My mum made this every summer during apricot season, sometimes using the leftover apricots from Russian Apricot Piroshki, however in this recipe we are using a homemade Apricot Jam. It's not a traditional apricot pie, as the dough is not a pastry, but made from a sweet yeast dough called 'sdobnoye' (сдобное тесто).
Sdobnoye (сдобное тесто) can be made with many variations, from sweet to savory recipes. Check out my Russian Pastry with Strawberries, using Russian yeast dough recipe. The video below shows how to make a Sweet Yeast Dough from scratch, without a bread maker.
It's so easy to make the 'sdobnoye' or sweet yeast dough for this Apricot Pirog Pie recipe, when I use my bread maker. The dough setting is a timesaver and doesn't need me to worry about temperature or raising time. Just drop in all the ingredients, set to the dough setting, and in 90 minutes you are ready to roll out your yeast dough!
I had a really hard time finding an English translation for this recipe. If I called it an Apricot Pie, you would expect a typical pastry style, round, american style pie. If I called it an Open Faced Apricot Pie, then you would expect something resembling a gallete style pie. These descriptions are all correct, and translated directly as a Russian Pirog, which loosely translated to Russian Pie (which can take many forms from small hand pies to large open sheet pies, sweet or savory). So Apricot Pirog Pie is the name that best describes this recipe.
I found a recipe online that closely resembled my childhood recipe that I remember. It's from a cook book called The Book of Tasty and Healthy Food (Книга о вкусной и здоровой пище) which was written by Soviet scientists, first published in 1939 then in 1952 which became a staple in the Soviet and Russian kitchens. Sometimes it’s referred to as Stalin’s cookbook. I will share their original recipe at the bottom of this post for my reader's who can read Russian.
Recipe Tips
It's always best to use a homemade jam, the more rustic the better. Do not use a jelly, the chunky apricot pieces are the best thing. If you want to use dried apricots, the recipe is in my Apricot Piroshki recipe. You could simply make a regular lattice type of covering for the Apricot Pirog Pie.
However, it's fancier to make small slices on the edges of the dough strips, so when it cooks it resembles a leafy pattern. Only slightly slice the edges of the dough on both sides, kind of resembling a Christmas tree pattern (diagonal symmetrical slices). My mum makes the lattice pattern quite widely, but you can decide how many lattice's you place on the pie.
When the Russian Apricot Jam Slice (Пирог из дрожжевого теста с вареньем) is finished baking, cut into squares and serve with a hot cup of tea. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Apricot Jam Slice (Пирог с вареньем)
A rustic treat with sweet homemade apricot jam, generously spread on a Russian sweet yeast dough called Sdobnoe (сдобное тесто). Not your ordinary pie pastry, almost a cake or slice, so delicious - Russian Apricot Jam Slice (Пирог из дрожжевого теста с вареньем)
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk lukewarm
- 2 large eggs
- 6 tablespoon sugar
- 4 tablespoons oil - using 15ml measure - melted butter is better
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3⅓ cups of flour
- 2 teaspoons yeast - slightly less than a ¼ oz. bread machine yeast packet
- homemade apricot jam
- egg wash
Instructions
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Place ingredients in the order listed (minus apricot jam and egg wash) into your bread machine and select the dough program.
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Preheat oven to 325°F/160°C.
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When the dough is ready, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface, into the shape of the baking sheet. Roll it out to about ½ cm thick, or ¼ inch thick and place on top of the parchment. Cut the edges of the dough off, and set aside for the lattice ribbons.
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Spread a layer of homemade apricot jam across the pie. The surface area of the dough should be completely covered with the apricot jam.
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With the remaining dough, roll out into thin strips the length of the pie. The strips should be about 3 cm wide, and rolled out flat, not round. For a fancier effect, slice small symmetrical cuts diagonally along the length of the dough strip (resembling a christmas tree effect). When this cooks, it will resemble a leafy vine.
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Take the egg wash and lightly brush on all the exposed dough pieces.
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Place in the the oven for about 20 minutes until the dough starts to turn golden brown. Check that the base of the pie is cooked underneath. If needed, keep in oven for another 5-10 minutes, keep checking until you are happy with it. Mine took around 25 minutes.
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Remove from the oven, cool and serve with tea or a glass of milk.
©PetersFoodAdventures.com
RECIPE FROM THE CLASSIC SOVIET COOKBOOK - THE BOOK OF TASTY AND HEALTHY FOOD (1952)
СЛАДКИЙ ПИРОГ ИЗ ДРОЖЖЕВОГО ТЕСТА
Сладкий пирог делают с начинкой из повидла, джема, варенья или яблок.
Готовое тесто раскатать слоем, примерно, ½ см, поместить на приготовленный противень, лист или круглую сковороду, обрезать лишнее тесто, положить начинку и загнуть края на 1 ½–2 см. Из остатков теста нарезать узкие полосы и сделать поверх начинки решетку. Полоску теста прикрепить к краям пирога яйцом. Затем поставить пирог в теплое место, чтобы он поднялся. Когда пирог поднимется, смазать верх взбитым яйцом и поставить в жаркий духовой шкаф на 20–30 минут.
Готовый пирог осторожно снять с противня, положить на бумагу, обсыпать сверху сахарной пудрой, смешанной с ванилином, нарезать, уложить на блюдо и подать.
К сладкому пирогу можно подать молоко или фруктовый сок.
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