What is Russian Pelmeni?

Pelmeni is by far one of my favorite Russian food. How to describe it to someone? The best way to describe it is to say that it is dumplings consisting of a meat filling wrapped in thin, unleavened dough.

One of the major differences between dumplings and Pelmeni is the thickness of the dough shell.

The dough has to be as thin as possible and is never served with a sweet filling.

Where to buy this delicious food?

Customers can find Pelmeni in all supermarkets and shops. Go to the frozen food section and you will find them in packs ranging from 500 grams to 1 kg. Many restaurants serve Pelmeni.

How to cook frozen Pelmeni?

Preparing the food is very easy. Take a large pan and fill it with boiling water. Add salt and add the pack of dumplings. To give an indication: Use 4 liters of water for 1 kg. Boil for approximately 10 minutes until the pelmeni starts floating on the surface. Boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Now it  can be served with sour cream and black pepper. I prefer to eat it with only the sour cream.

Many people like to saute it in butter until lightly brown. Either way it is delicious.

Where did Pelmeni originally come from?

Nobody knows when Pelmeni entered the Russian culture exactly. It is quite possible that pelmeni were carried by the Mongols to Siberia and the Urals. Later it spread as far as Eastern Europe. It is known that hunters in particular favored this dish. Winter months were long and hard and they were looking for a dish that was easy to prepare, light and nourishing.

It might not look like much but believe me it is absolutely delicious!