Meat Hand Pies from No-Yeast Kefir Dough

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   To make these signature no-yeast meat hand pies, gather your ingredients and spices, and pour 2 cups (500 ml) of room-temperature kefir into a large bowl.

2. Step 2:

   

   Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the bowl of kefir.

3. Step 3:

   

   Also add 1 teaspoon of sugar to the bowl.

4. Step 4:

   

   Pour 120 ml (about ½ cup) of vegetable oil into the bowl.

5. Step 5:

   

   Stir all the ingredients in the bowl together thoroughly.

6. Step 6:

   

   Sift 800 grams of flour into the large bowl, holding a little back for dusting, then add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and mix everything with a whisk.

7. Step 7:

   

   Keep kneading the dough by hand and bring it together into a smooth, pliable ball.

8. Step 8:

   

   Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface.

9. Step 9:

   

   Knead the dough well, then put it in a plastic bag and let it rest for thirty minutes.

10. Step 10:

    

    Finely chop 300 grams of onion.

11. Step 11:

    

    Pour a little vegetable oil into a skillet, set it over high heat, add the onion, and fry, stirring, until translucent.

12. Step 12:

    

    Add 600 grams of ground meat to the skillet and fry over high heat, stirring constantly, for thirty minutes until fully cooked.

13. Step 13:

    

    Ten minutes before the filling is done, season with salt to taste.

14. Step 14:

    

    Add half a teaspoon of coriander to the skillet for aroma.

15. Step 15:

    

    Add the ground pepper blend to the meat, to taste.

16. Step 16:

    

    Stir everything together well, lower the heat, cover, and cook the filling for another ten minutes. Transfer the cooked filling to a deep bowl and set it in a cool spot to cool down.

17. Step 17:

    

    In a cup, beat the white of one egg well.

18. Step 18:

    

    Pour the beaten egg white into the bowl of filling and mix well.

19. Step 19:

    

    After half an hour, take the dough out of the bag, place it on a floured surface, and divide it into pieces of the size you want.

20. Step 20:

    

    Pour 140 grams (about ⅔ cup) of vegetable oil into a skillet and heat it over the highest heat.

21. Step 21:

    

    Flatten each piece of dough into a round and spoon the filling onto the center.

22. Step 22:

    

    Pinch the edges of the dough firmly to seal and shape the pies.

23. Step 23:

    

    Place the pies seam-side down in the hot oil and fry until golden on both sides.

24. Step 24:

    

    Line a plate with a paper towel and pile on the golden-brown pies. Enjoy, everyone!