World Flavors Cookbook

Siberian Pelmeni

Small, thin-skinned dumplings filled with a seasoned mixture of ground meats. Originally a Siberian traveler's staple because they could be frozen outdoors and quickly boiled in any conditions.

Cuisine: Russia

Ingredients

• Dough: 3 cups flour, 1 egg, 1 cup water, pinch of salt
• Filling: 250g ground beef, 250g ground pork
• 1 large onion, very finely grated
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Cold water (to make filling juicy)
• Salt, plenty of black pepper
• To serve: Sour cream, vinegar, or melted butter

Instructions

1. Mix dough ingredients and knead until smooth. Rest for 30 minutes.
2. Mix meat, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add a splash of cold water to the meat to ensure juiciness.
3. Roll out dough very thin. Cut out small circles (about 5cm).
4. Place a small teaspoon of meat in the center. Fold into a half-moon, pinch edges, then bring the two corners together to form a "hat" shape.
5. Boil in salted water with a bay leaf until they float, then 3 more minutes.
6. Serve hot with sour cream and a splash of vinegar.