2 hrs prep & 10 mins to cook mins
How to Make Basic Vareniky or Pelmeni Dough:
- Using the whisk attachment on medium speed, mix together: ⅔ cup buttermilk, 1 tbsp of sour cream 2 cups warm water, 2 eggs and 1½ tsp salt until well blended
- Switch to dough hook and add 4 cups flour. Mix on speed 2 until well blended.
- Add 3 more cups of flour (one cup at a time and wait for the dough to become well blended with each cup).
- Add the rest of the flour 1 Tbsp at a time, until the dough is no longer sticking to the sides of the bowl (I used 6 Tbsp). Once it is no longer sticking to the bowl, continue to mix 5 minutes. (Total mixing time is about 20 minutes from the time you start adding flour).
- Place the dough on a lightly floured surface.
How to Make Pelmeni Filling:
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a medium skillet. Add onion and saute until golden and soft. Add garlic and saute another minute.
- Mix together pork, turkey, onion & garlic mix, ¾ tsp salt, ½ tsp ground pepper and 1 tsp hot sauce (optional).
If using a pelmeni mold:
- Cut off about tennis-ball-size chunks of dough and roll out into a circle.
- Place over mold. Place ½ tsp meat into each pocket space on the mold.
- Roll out another chunk of dough and place over the mold.
- Use a rolling pin, roll the top, working from the center – outwards until the pelmeni are well-defined.
- Turn the pelmeni maker over and push the pelmeni out onto a well-floured cutting board.
- Arrange pelmeni evenly on the cutting board, sprinkle with flour and place in the freezer. Pinch together any open edges on pelmeni or the meat will float out during cooking.
- Once they are fully frozen, put them in large ziplock bags, sprinkle with flour and freeze them for future enjoyment.
If making pelmeni by hand:
- Shape a portion of the dough into a 1 to 2 -inch thick log. Cut off 1 piece at a time (about gumball sized) and roll into disks to form a 1.5-inch circle with rolling pin. Sprinkle rolling pin and surface with flour if needed.
- Place 1 tsp pelmeni filling in the center,
- Close the edges and pinch together.
- Pinch the corners together to form, well… a diaper shape.
- Place pelmeni onto a well-floured cutting board. Arrange pelmeni evenly on the cutting board, sprinkle with flour and place in the freezer.
- Once they are fully frozen, put them in large ziplock bags, sprinkle with flour and freeze them for future enjoyment.
