Homemade chicken pelmeni

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make homemade chicken pelmeni? Start with the dough. In a deep bowl, sift the flour and add the salt. Sifting not only removes any debris from the flour but also aerates it, which makes the dough softer.

2. Step 2:

   

   Beat in the egg. Always wash eggs before using them, since even a seemingly clean shell can harbor harmful bacteria.

3. Step 3:

   

   Next, pour in room-temperature water (this matters — the gluten in the flour, which gives the dough its elasticity, develops faster in warm water). Knead the dough.

4. Step 4:

   

   If the dough sticks slightly to your hands, add a little flour; if it's still crumbly, add a bit more water. Everyone's flour is different, and so is the amount of water needed, so go by the consistency. It should be smooth, even, and elastic. Wrap the pelmeni dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 20–30 minutes.

5. Step 5:

   

   Meanwhile, make the filling. I used chicken fillet, but if you're short on time you can use store-bought ground chicken. Grind the chicken fillet in a meat grinder or chop it in a blender. Peel the onion, grind it the same way, and add it to the chicken along with salt and pepper. You can add 1–2 cloves of garlic if you like. Mix well. The filling is ready.

6. Step 6:

   

   Roll the rested dough out into a thin sheet with a rolling pin. Cut out circles with a glass. Knead the dough scraps well and roll them out again.

7. Step 7:

   

   Put 1 teaspoon of filling on each circle.

8. Step 8:

   

   Fold the piece in half and pinch the edges firmly to seal.

9. Step 9:

   

   Bend the resulting half-moon around and pinch the two corners together. Shape pelmeni from all the dough the same way. Lay the finished chicken pelmeni out on a floured surface. At this stage you can freeze them.

10. Step 10:

    

    Cook the pelmeni in plenty of water. Bring the water to a boil, add salt and, if you like, a bay leaf. Gently lower the pelmeni into the boiling water. I'd suggest adding them one at a time and stirring constantly so they don't stick together. Cook the chicken pelmeni for about 10–15 minutes after the water returns to a boil. Then lift them out carefully with a slotted spoon. Serve with broth or sauces. Enjoy!