Manti (Armenian Dumplings)

Ingredients:

For the dough

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the meat filling

  • 1/2 pound ground beef sirloin
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground Aleppo pepper

For the tomato sauce

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cups chicken and beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons red pepper paste
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 to one ounce lemon juice

For the yogurt-garlic sauce

  • 1 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt or 1 cup of labne mixed with 1/2 cup of water
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • Kosher salt
  • Sumac and Aleppo pepper for sprinkling

Directions:

Step 1: Prepare the dough

Beat the egg with the vegetable oil and then add salt and water. Combine the mixture with the flour and mix until a dough forms. On a lightly floured work surface, knead the dough until smooth, about 5 minutes. Divide into two pieces and cover each with plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for one hour.

Step 2: Make the meat filling

Combine the meat with the spices, chopped onion, and parsley; set aside in a bowl covered in the fridge.

Step 3: Make the tomato sauce

In a saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil for a minute and then add the tomato paste and the pepper paste and cook for another minute or so, until all is mixed well. Add the broth, lemon juice and the spices. Bring it to a boil then simmer and keep warm.

Step 4: Make the yogurt-garlic sauce

In a small bowl, combine the yogurt and garlic and season with salt. Mix well and refrigerate.

Step 5: Shape the Manti

Roll out the first dough into a very thin layer. Cut the dough with a pizza cutter or knife into small 1.5 inch squares. Add 1/2 teaspoon of mante filling in the middle of the squares and form small boat-shaped dumplings by pinching the two sides of the square. Using a round or rectangular pan covered with thin layer of vegetable oil, arrange the mante close together. Repeat with the second dough.

Step 6: Cook the Manti

Preheat the oven to 400F and roast the Manti for about half an hour, until golden brown color. Meanwhile, heat the red sauce, making sure the mixture is almost boiling.

Step 7: Serve and enjoy

Remove the pans from the oven and serve the Manti in individual soup bowls. Add the tomato sauce and then top it with a dollop of yogurt-garlic sauce. Drizzle with sumac and Aleppo pepper. Enjoy!

Recipe via Nina Festekjian

Share on: