Manti with Pumpkin and Ground Beef

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make manti with pumpkin and ground beef? Prep the ingredients for the dough. Be sure to sift the flour—it removes any bits and aerates it, which makes the dumplings soft and light. Use warm, filtered water.

2. Step 2:

   

   Put the flour in a deep bowl, add the salt, and mix well. Crack the egg into the bowl. Wash eggs before using them—even a shell that looks clean can carry harmful bacteria; a food-safe wash and a brush work best. Mix the flour with the egg, then start pouring in the warm water. Knead the dough first with a fork, then with your hands.

3. Step 3:

   

   If it comes out too stiff, add a little more water; too soft, add more flour—it depends on your flour. Little by little the dough will smooth out. Keep kneading on the counter for a good while, about 10 minutes, then put it in a bag and let it rest on the counter. In that time the flour absorbs the remaining liquid and the gluten develops, making the dough more elastic.

4. Step 4:

   

   While the dough rests, make the filling. You can grind beef through a meat grinder yourself or use ready ground beef. I'm using homemade ground beef.

5. Step 5:

   

   Wash the pumpkin, peel it, and cut it into pieces. Be careful—pumpkin is very hard, so it's easier to peel it piece by piece.

6. Step 6:

   

   Grind the pumpkin however is easiest—run it through a meat grinder along with the meat, grate it on a coarse grater, or just cut it into small cubes. I went with a grater.

7. Step 7:

   

   Chop the onion the same way.

8. Step 8:

   

   Put the ground beef, pumpkin, and onion in a bowl. Add salt and pepper. You can also add your favorite spices and some finely chopped fresh herbs.

9. Step 9:

   

   Mix the filling well. For extra juiciness, you can pour in a little cold clean water.

10. Step 10:

    

    Roll the rested dough into a long rope, then cut it into small pieces.

11. Step 11:

    

    On a floured board, roll each piece out into a thin round.

12. Step 12:

    

    Put a spoonful of filling in the center of each round.

13. Step 13:

    

    Pinch together two opposite edges, leaving the sides open.

14. Step 14:

    

    Fold those open sides up to the seam and pinch them firmly too.

15. Step 15:

    

    Wrap the resulting corners around the dumpling and pinch them together. You'll get a neat, round manti. This is just one shaping method—it makes round dumplings.

16. Step 16:

    

    Steam the manti however you can—in a manti steamer, a regular steamer, or a multicooker. Cooking time is 30 to 45 minutes, depending on size.

17. Step 17:

    

    Arrange the finished manti on a platter and serve with a sour cream or tomato sauce. Enjoy!