The North Dakota cheese button has quite an extensive history that definitely does not originate in the Peace Garden State. In Polish, this dish is called pierogi, in German, it is known as kase knoephla, the Czech community knows them as vareniki and in Ukrainian, they are called varenyky or pyrohy, but to the North Dakota residents that adopted this now-famous dish, it is known simply as cheese buttons.
Cheese buttons consist of a cottage cheese stuffed dumpling that is traditionally pan-fried or boiled and topped with scallions or caramelized onions and fresh sour cream. The texture and blend of flavors cheese buttons behold is an experience too good to pass up even for the lactose intolerant. Despite, the cheese button being a Euro-centric delicacy, it has become one of the most popular food items across North Dakota and can be found listed on the menus of many restaurants throughout the state.