Russian Pelmeni Recipe + New Dough Recipe!
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients
Ingredients for Pelmeni Dough:
- 2/3 cups buttermilk
- 1 Tbsp sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups warm water
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 7 cups plus 6 Tbsp unbleached all-purpose flour
Ingredients for Pelmeni Filling:
Ingredients/ Ideas for Toppings:
- Melted butter sour cream, vinegar, ketchup
Instructions
How to Make Basic Vareniky or Pelmeni Dough:
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Using the whisk attachment on medium speed, mix together: 2/3 cup buttermilk, 1 tbsp of sour cream 2 cups warm water, 2 eggs and 1 1/2 tsp salt until well blended
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Switch to dough hook and add 4 cups flour. Mix on speed 2 until well blended.
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Add 3 more cups of flour (one cup at a time and wait for the dough to become well blended with each cup).
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Add the rest of the flour 1 Tbsp at a time, until the dough is no longer sticking to the sides of the bowl (I used 6 Tbsp). Once it is no longer sticking to the bowl, continue to mix 5 minutes. (Total mixing time is about 20 minutes from the time you start adding flour).
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Place the dough on a lightly floured surface.
How to Make Pelmeni Filling:
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Heat 1 tbsp oil in a medium skillet. Add onion and saute until golden and soft. Add garlic and saute another minute.
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Mix together pork, turkey, onion & garlic mix, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground pepper and 1 tsp hot sauce (optional).
If using a pelmeni mold:
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Cut off about tennis-ball-size chunks of dough and roll out into a circle.
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Place over mold. Place 1/2 tsp meat into each pocket space on the mold.
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Roll out another chunk of dough and place over the mold.
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Use a rolling pin, roll the top, working from the center - outwards until the pelmeni are well-defined.
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Turn the pelmeni maker over and push the pelmeni out onto a well-floured cutting board.
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Arrange pelmeni evenly on the cutting board, sprinkle with flour and place in the freezer. Pinch together any open edges on pelmeni or the meat will float out during cooking.
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Once they are fully frozen, put them in large ziploc bags, sprinkle with flour and freeze them for future enjoyment.
If making pelmeni by hand:
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Shape a portion of the dough into a 1 to 2 -inch thick log. Cut off 1 piece at a time (about gum ball sized) and roll into disks to form a 1.5-inch circle with rolling pin. Sprinkle rolling pin and surface with flour if needed.
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Place 1 tsp pelmeni filling in the center,
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Close the edges and pinch together.
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Pinch the corners together to form, well... a diaper shape.
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Place pelmeni onto a well-floured cutting board. Arrange pelmeni evenly on the cutting board, sprinkle with flour and place in the freezer.
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Once they are fully frozen, put them in large ziploc bags, sprinkle with flour and freeze them for future enjoyment.
To Cook Pelmeni:
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Bring a pot of water to boil (add 1 tbsp salt for a large soup pot, or 1 tsp salt for a smaller 4 quart pot). Add FROZEN pelmeni and return to a boil. They should float to the top, then boil for 3 mintues longer (or until meat is fully cooked). Drain pelmeni and place them in a clean bowl. Toss pelmeni with butter and sprinkle with dill (optional). Serve them warm with ketchup, sour cream or vinegar (my personal favorite).