Introduction: Khinkali, a traditional Georgian dumpling, is made with a flavorful meat filling, pleated dough, and served hot with cracked black pepper. Follow this authentic recipe to enjoy these juicy, brothy dumplings right at home.
Ingredients: Dough:
- 3 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 beaten egg (optional)
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups water
Filling:
- 1 pound ground beef or lamb
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 cup broth or water
- 2 minced onions
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped dill
- 1 tablespoon ground caraway
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Create a well in the center, then add the beaten egg and 1 cup of water. Stir the egg and water into the flour with a fork, adding more water as needed to form a soft dough.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth and supple (about 5-6 minutes). Cover and set aside to rest for at least 20 minutes.
- In another bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Cook a small portion in a greased skillet to taste the seasoning and adjust as necessary.
- Cut the rested dough into 2 portions. Roll out one portion of the dough to about 1/4-inch thick. Cut out 3-inch rounds of dough using a cookie cutter or large glass. Roll each round into a 5- or 6-inch round. Sprinkle each round with a little flour and set aside.
- Place about 1/4 cup of filling in the center of a dough round. Working around the dumpling, bring an edge of the dough up over the filling, making pleats in the dough and bringing the edges together over the top of the filling. Pinch the top of the dumpling to seal it and form a knob. Repeat with the remaining dough rounds and filling.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the dumplings to the water and cook at a low boil for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove the dumplings with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a serving dish. Season generously with cracked black pepper and serve hot.
How to Eat Khinkali: Grab the top knob of a dumpling and bring it to your mouth. Take the first bite carefully, as the dumpling should release a delicious, brothy juice if sealed properly. Eat the remainder of the dumpling, leaving the top knob uneaten. Georgians traditionally use the uneaten knobs to tally their appetite by lining them up on their plate. Enjoy your homemade Georgian Khinkali!