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Pelmeni Soup is comforting and healthy. Keep some of our homemade pelmeni on hand for this quick lunchtime favorite.

Pelmeni soup in a bowl

Pelmeni soup is comprised of veggies, chicken broth, and you guessed it, pelmeni! Never had pelmeni before? In short, they are the Russian version of boiled dumplings. Stuffed with ground beef, chicken or pork, onions and spices, they are a wonderful savory treat.

Before you get started on your soup, head over and learn how to make my family’s recipe for pelmeni. Double up the recipe and eat a batch fresh and freeze the other to have on hand for this amazing soup. Trust me, you won’t regret the extra work.

This simple soup is loved by children and adults alike. Think of it as an Eastern European spin on Chinese wonton soup. It’s slurpy and chock-full of meaty morsels. YUM!

made pelmeni out of the mold

What are Siberian Pelmeni?

Pelmeni are sometimes referred to as Siberian Pelmeni, because they originated from Siberia. Traditionally, these are meat dumplings that are stuffed with a combination of beef and pork. Sometimes they can be lightened up with ground turkey or chicken.

My husband, Tim, was born in Siberia and immigrated to the United States at the age of 9. Pelmeni have always been a staple in his home and are expected to be in abundance at all his family parties.

corn, onion and carrots cooking in a pot
Pot with broth
Pot with chicken broth, herbs and pelmeni
Pelmeni soup in a pot

Tips for Pelmeni Soup

  • This soup is very versatile — use the veggies you like most! Mix things up or add what you have on hand. Bok choy, carrots, corn, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, kale and spinach are all great substitutions/additions.
  • If you don’t have any homemade broth on hand, pick a flavorful store bought variety. Better than Bouillon broth concentrate is a staple in my fridge. It has such a rich flavor and lasts forever!
  • If you don’t have the time or energy to make pelmeni from scratch, no worries! You can easily find frozen pelmeni at any Eastern European supermarket.
  • Only add your frozen pelmeni when all the veggies are cooked so they don’t turn soggy. You will want to turn off the soup as soon as they float to the top.
  • This soup is taken to the NEXT LEVEL with a sprinkling of fresh dill right before serving. This extra burst of flavor takes me right back to my childhood! If you must, use dried dill, but the fresh stuff tastes the best!
Pelmeni soup in a bowl

Trader Joe’s Pelmeni

If you have a Trader Joe’s close by, pick up their frozen pelmeni. Coming from an Eastern European, these are pretty authentic and amazing when used for this soup. They are packed full of herbs and super tasty!

More Childhood Soup Recipes

Here’s more slurpy goodness straight from the motherland:

  • Cabbage Soup: One of the most satisfying, low-calorie soups out there! It’s so nice to have on hand as a quick and healthy lunch during the hectic work week!
  • Split Pea Soup: Made the old-fashioned way with ham hock, this creamy and classic soup is perfect for a cold winter day.
  • Russian Borscht Recipe: Borscht is a sour and savory cabbage and beet soup. If you haven’t tried it before, you must!
  • Fish Soup aka Ukha: Calling all seafood lovers! Warm up to this classic Ukrainian soup and be prepared to go back for seconds (and thirds).

Recipe

Pelmeni soup in a bowl

Dumpling (Pelmeni) Soup

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Servings
8 servings
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Pelmeni Soup is comforting and healthy. Keep some of our homemade pelmeni on hand for this quick lunchtime favorite.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 medium carrots
  • 1/2 large onion
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 3 qt chicken broth
  • 1 lb pelmeni
  • 1/2 cup green onion chopped
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley diced
US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Dice onion and carrots into very tiny pieces. Preheat the pot with olive oil, place onions and carrots. Saute until golden brown.
    carrots and onions cooking
  • Add corn and chicken broth to the pot. Bring broth to a boil.
    Pot with broth
  • Add dumplings and green onion, and cook for about 20 minutes. All dumplings should float to the top once they are cooked.
    Pot with chicken broth, herbs and pelmeni
  • Add parsley to the soup. Serve hot.
    Pelmeni soup in a pot
Nutrition Facts
Dumpling (Pelmeni) Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 217 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Cholesterol 3mg1%
Sodium 1576mg66%
Potassium 429mg12%
Carbohydrates 32g11%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 2743IU55%
Vitamin C 37mg45%
Calcium 55mg6%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted April 20, 2020

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.