1-First, focus on the dough since it’s the base of your Russian pelmeni. Sift 3 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt into a large mixing bowl, then add 3 eggs and mix until incorporated. Next, pour in 2/3 cup lukewarm water and mix the dough using a mixer or by hand until it’s smooth. Once done, sprinkle flour onto a work surface to prepare for rolling.

2-Making the Pelmeni Filling: While the dough rests, prepare the filling to keep things moving smoothly in this step-by-step pelmeni cooking guide. Combine 2 pounds ground meat, 1 large grated onion, 1/2 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Mix everything thoroughly by hand until well blended, adjusting seasoning as needed for your taste.

3-Now it’s time to assemble your pelmeni, which can be done two ways depending on what you have. For using a mold, roll out a flat piece of dough and place it on a well-floured pelmeni mold, fill each hole with the meat mixture, then cover with another rolled-out piece of dough. Sprinkle flour over it and roll with a pin until the dumplings separate, then flip and shake out the pelmeni. Dust them with flour and either freeze or cook right away.

4-Assembling by Hand: If you don’t have a mold, assembling by hand is just as easy for this traditional Russian pelmeni recipe. Roll out the dough and cut small circles about 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Add a spoonful of filling to each circle, fold in half to make a half-moon shape, pinch the edges to seal, and connect the two corners. Dust with flour and freeze or boil immediately.

5-Finally, cooking your pelmeni is straightforward in this easy pelmeni recipes from Russia approach. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pelmeni, and cook until they float to the top. Strain them, drizzle with unsalted butter, and serve hot with sour cream. This whole process takes about 1 hour 20 minutes total, with 1 hour prep and 20 minutes cook time.