This dough is made from just water and flour, with a little salt added. In other words, those three ingredients are all you need for a complete product. No eggs, no sugar, no butter required. That said, a little vegetable oil helps you knead a more elastic dough that doesn't stick to your hands. And it takes very little oil, just 1–2 tablespoons.
The five most commonly used ingredients in water dough recipes:
| Product | Calories per 100g | Protein g per 100g | Fats g per 100g | Carbohydrates g per 100g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flour | 325 | 12 | 1 | 67 |
| Wheat flour | 325 | 12 | 1 | 67 |
| Sugar | 398 | 0 | 0 | 99.7 |
| Eggs | 157 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 0.7 |
| Chicken eggs | 80 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 0.3 |
Water dough makes wonderful pancakes, especially with a variety of fillings. You can add yeast if you like. If you do, the dish comes out fluffier and airier, but also higher in calories. You can use cold, warm, or boiling water — depending on that, the texture and final taste of the dough will differ slightly.
The five fastest water dough recipes:
| Dish name | Cooking time | Calories per 100g | User rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| The simplest custard dough for chebureks | 5 min | 262 | +74 |
| Dumpling dough for soup | 5 min | 209 | +75 |
| Dumpling dough, simple and fast | 10 min | 230 | +91 |
| Thin pizza-base batter in a frying pan in 10 minutes | 10 min | 335 | +101 |
| Simple pizza dough in a dough mixer | 10 min | 274 | +48 |
Classic dough made with flour and water is moderately stiff, which makes it easy to roll out with a rolling pin on a floured flat surface. To make it more liquid (for fried pancakes, say), pour in more water. You can knead this in a mixer or food processor, just be careful not to overwork it to a rubbery state.
How to make the perfect water dough
A custard dough of flour and water calls for boiling water. If you prepare it with the right technique, you end up with an ideal base for dumplings and vareniki. Beat the egg with salt, add flour, and pour in vegetable oil. Last of all, add the boiling water and quickly knead the dough by hand.