Pelmeni

About This Recipe

Pelmeni are the soul of Siberian cuisine — tiny dumplings of pure practicality and comfort. Originally made in large batches and frozen outdoors during the harsh Siberian winters, they were a calorie-dense, easily stored food source. Today they remain Russia's most beloved comfort food, served simply with sour cream or drowned in broth.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 300 gplain flour(plus extra for dusting)
• 1egg
• 120 mlwater(cold)
• 1 tspsalt
• 200 gground pork
• 150 gground beef
• 1 smallonion(grated)
• 1 tspblack pepper
• 200 mlsour cream(to serve)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make dough

   Mix flour, egg, water, and ½ tsp salt into a smooth dough. Wrap and rest 30 min.

2. 2

   Make filling

   Combine ground meats, grated onion, remaining salt, and pepper.

3. 3

   Shape pelmeni

   Roll dough thinly. Cut circles 7 cm across. Place a small ball of filling in each, fold into a half-moon, and pinch edges. Bring the two corners together.

4. 4

   Boil

   Cook pelmeni in salted boiling water until they float plus 3 more min, about 8 min total.

5. 5

   Serve

   Drain and serve with sour cream or melted butter.

Variations

• •

  Fill with mushroom and potato (vegetarian)

• •

  Add dill to the filling

• •

  Serve in broth as a soup

Storage

Freeze uncooked on a tray, then bag. Cook directly from frozen — no need to thaw.

Frequently Asked Questions