mantu
Next Dish: Stinky Tofu
Mantu is a traditional dumpling dish popular in most Turkic cuisines, as well as in the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Afghanistan. The dumplings typically consist of a spiced meat mixture, usually lamb or ground beef, in a dough wrapper, and are either boiled or steamed. Size and shape vary significantly depending on the geographical location. The dish is often served topped with yogurt and sometimes accompanied by a tomato sauce.
Recipe
Ingredients:
For the Dough:
2 cups of flour
1/2 cup of water
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon of salt
For the Filling:
1 lb of ground beef or lamb
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
For the Sauce:
1 cup of plain yogurt
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon of salt
For the Topping:
1 tablespoon of oil
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of dried mint
Instructions:
Start by making the dough. In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the egg and water. Mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.
While the dough is resting, prepare the filling. In a bowl, mix the ground meat, onion, salt, and pepper.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface until it's very thin. Cut the dough into squares (about 3x3 inches).
Place a spoonful of the filling in the center of each square. Fold the dough over the filling to form a triangle or a rectangle, and pinch the edges to seal.
Steam the dumplings in a steamer for about 20 minutes, or until the dough is cooked through.
While the dumplings are steaming, prepare the sauce. In a bowl, mix the yogurt, garlic, and salt.
In a small pan, heat the oil and add the paprika and dried mint. Cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant.
Serve the dumplings topped with the yogurt sauce and the oil mixture.