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Pelmeni are the Russian version of dumplings. They’re mostly served on cold winter days with sour cream or just butter. Kids and adults both love them, they are a true Russian comfort food.

Two bowls with pelmeni and sour cream in background

Pelmeni originated from Siberia, no wonder my husband loves them so much. He immigrated to US from Siberia at nine years of age.

Russian Pelmeni can be made by hand or by using a mold. In Russian language, the mold is called “pelmenitsa”, you can get one for yourself on amazon. The mold will always speed up the process of making the Pelmeni.

What Russian Pelmeni Are Made Of

The dough is made with flour, water, eggs and seasoned with salt. The filling is made with ground meat, onion, salt and pepper. The best meat to use for the filling is pork or a combination of beef and chicken.

Make Pelmeni Using a Mold

rolled out pelmeni dough
Pelmeni mold with meat
Pelmeni in a mold

Make Pelmeni by Hand

Pelmeni dough cut out
pelmeni dough with a filling
half folded pelmeni
Pelmeni made by hand

Tips For Storing Pelmeni

Place the raw Pelmeni on a flat tray, dusted with flour. Generously dust them with flour on the outside. Leave them in a freezer until they harden. Place the frozen Pelmeni in a ziplock back. They can be kept frozen for several months.

Can You Pan Fry Pelmeni?

If you have leftovers, reheat them by frying Pelmeni with butter. Fry them only for a few minutes, just until the outside achieves a golden crust.

Other Russian Recipes to Try

Recipe

Bowl with Pelmeni

Pelmeni (Russian Dumplings)

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Servings
14 servings
Prep Time 1 hr
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
Pelmeni are the Russian version of dumplings. They're mostly served on cold winter days with sour cream or just butter. Kids and adults both love them, they are a true Russian comfort food.

Ingredients

Ingredients for Pelmeni Dough

  • 3 cup flour (depending on brand, you may need to add more)
  • 2/3 cup luke warm water
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp salt

Ingredients for Pelmeni Filling

  • 2 lb ground meat (chicken, turkey and mixing in ground beef)
  • 1 large onion grated
  • 1/2 tbsp salt to taste
  • 1 tsp pepper to taste

Serving Pelmeni

Instructions

Pelmeni Dough

  • Sift the flour with salt into a mixing bowl. Add eggs, mix the dough for a short bit, then add water to the dough.
    Flour, eggs and water in a bowl with flour
  • Combine everything into a smooth texture by hand or using a Kitchen Aid mixer. Flour the working surface.
    Pelmeni dough in a bowl

Pelmeni Filling

  • Combine together ground meat, grated onion, salt and pepper. 
    ground meat, onion and salt and pepper

To Assemble Pelmeni

  • To save time use a mold to make Pelmeni. Roll out a flat piece of dough and place it on a floured mold that’s covered with flour. Fill each hole with meat.
    Pelmeni mold with meat
  • Make one more flat, round piece of dough and place it on top. Sprinkle with flour and roll over it with a roller until each piece is separated. 
    Pelmeni in a mold
  • Flip the mold over and shake out the Pelmeni. Dust them with flour, either freeze for later or boil them to cook. 
    made pelmeni out of the mold
  • To make Pelmeni by hand, roll out the dough and cut out small circles using a cookie cutter. Place meat in the middle and fold over the sides into a half-moon shape, pinching the edges together. Connect the two corners together.
    Pelmeni in the making process by hand

To Boil Pelmeni

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add Pelmeni. You’ll know they’re ready once you see them float to the top. Take Pelmeni out using a strainer. Drizzle them with butter and serve with a side of sour cream. 
    Bowl with Pelmeni
Nutrition Facts
Pelmeni (Russian Dumplings)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 279 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Cholesterol 81mg27%
Sodium 473mg20%
Potassium 228mg7%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 51IU1%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 23mg2%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted January 13, 2019

About Author

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.