Stella’s Gluten-Free Perogies

I always have my eye out in my local supermarket for new products, especially new egg-free and gluten-free products. We don’t exactly live in a mecca of celiacs, or with those following special diets, although I do seem to meet more and more of them lately. As I remarked to my mom on the phone this week, it’s tiring to make food from scratch all the time.

I was trolling the local IGA this week, and in the freezer section, I stumbled upon Stella’s Gluten-Free Perogies.
 

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Official Product Name: Stellas Perogies

Price: $13.99 for 520g bag

Description Per Manufacturer: Stellas offers gluten free perogies, pizza pouches, and ravioli in many different flavours, and varieties that are available to people with additional sensitivities to dairy, soy, corn, and egg.

 I got excited…down the side of the bag it read:

-Gluten-Free
-Wheat Free
-Egg Free
-Soy Free
-Corn Free
-Sulfate Free

The ingredients were simple: white rice flour, sweet rice flour, water, potato starch, canola oil, potato, cottage cheese, xanthan gum, chives, sea salt and pepper. Things you can pronounce, that you’re used to using. Brilliant! The fact they were made in Lacombe, Alberta (yay local food) AND from a dedicated gluten-free facility.

I’m sold. I tossed them in my buggy and off I went with toddler and baby in tow. I suffered a little sticker shock at the check out counter – $13.99 for a 520g bag, but I was determined to try these and see if they were as tasty as they were portraying themselves to be – their slogan is “You really don’t have to live without it“. 

Fast forward to tonight – quick trip to shopping center was not quick and I have one hungry toddler on my hands and I need something to make quick. I scanned my fridge and popping out of the door at me is Stella’s Perogies, and I thought, “lets do this thing!”

The directions recommend cooking in boiling water for 5-8 minutes or until they float to the top.

Mine took about 7.5 minutes. Around the 3 minute mark, I got out my frying pan and melted about 1 tbsp of butter in it, as I like a crispier perogy.

The bag suggests to fry them for 2-4 minutes on each side (total of 4-8 minutes). I found it took closer to 13 minutes in total on medium high heat. 

We served them with some fresh vegetables – snow peas, avocado and cucumber and washed it down with a box of apple juice.

Pros

• A very simple, fast meal solution that caters to people with sensitives
• Package is big enough to feed the whole family (3-4 people) or do two meals for singles or children
• Fits nicely on freezer door
• They taste like the real thing, you really won’t know the difference
• Locally made in Lacombe, Alberta with homegrown products

Cons

• Cost. $13.99 for a 520g bag seems high. It wouldn’t be something I could buy every week.
• My local store only carries one type currently
• The cottage cheese flavour was good, but mild. I like more cheese-y impact!
• For a larger family, this bag wouldn’t be big enough

Connect with the Stellas Gluten-Free Perogies team to get them to our favourite local supermarket – Facebook, Email.

Summary

The package contains about 3-4 servings but between myself and a hungry toddler, we consumed them all. I had seconds. In retrospect, I think I might have had even more veggies and left about 5-6 in the bag for next time. The perogy itself is tasty – the cottage cheese had a smooth texture with a lump here or there of cottage cheese. Even my sometimes gluten-free picky 2 year old enjoyed them. I enjoyed finally being able to enjoy a perogy again without being sick. I think it’s a terrific product, and I hope it goes on sale at my local grocery store so I can stock up!
 
*Please note this review is unsponsored and all opinions are those of the author.