Pelmeni (russ.: пельмени) are in thier form like Italian tortelloni stuffed with minced meat. This dish originates from Siberia and was a popular meal among coachmen or hunters on their long trips across this vast and cold part of Russia. Pelmeni were prepared and stored frozen for a long period of time without being cooked. So it was frozen food that could be easily cooked and eaten either at home or on a journey. One only had to light a fire and boil some water or melt snow to cook pelmeni. During long and hard winters this hot and nourishing food was a real blessing.
Pelmeni - step by step
- Mix minced meat, onions, some water, salt and pepper.
- For the dough mix flour with egg, salt and 3 tablespoons of water. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until elastic and roll it thin.
- Cut circles from rolled out dough.
- Fill each cut-out with one teaspoon of minced meat and brush the edges with egg white.
- Fold one half over to form a semi-circle. Seal and pinch the ends.
- Cook in boiling salted water for about 10-15 minutes until pelmeni float to the surface. Remove carefully with a skimmer and serve on a hot plate.
Pour hot melted butter over pelmeni and sparkle with parsley. Pelmeni should be eaten hot as they don’t taste once they have cooled down.
Pelmeni Variations:
- Serve pelmeni with sour cream and/or a little bit of vinegar instead of butter
- Use mixed meat or beef instead of minced pork.
- Use minced beef lever as a filling. In this case pour sour cream into clay pot over pelmeni and bake in oven.
- Use water instead of egg white.
- Use dill instead of parsley.
Russian recipes
- Salads and Appetizers
Recipes for Russian salads, Mushroom Caviar, Russian eggs, etc. - Soups and stews
Borsch, Solyanka, Shchi and more recipes. - Main Dishes
Recipes for Russian pancakes (bliny), pelmeni, fish and meat recipes. - Grilling and BBQ
Shashlik recipes for Caucasian style barbecue. - Baking
Recipes for Russian pierogi, Vatrushki, an apple pie and cakes - Drinks
Recipes for Kwaß and Cranberry Water with Honey
Russian cuisine
- Cabbage - cooking tipps and recipes.
- Russian Easter Feast - Russian Easter recipes
