Mantu
Mantu are delicious steamed dumplings filled with seasoned ground meat and onions, often topped with a yogurt-based sauce and a tomato-based sauce.
🧂 Ingredients
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 2 tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil(plus more for greasing)
- 1.25 cups Water(adjust as needed for dough consistency)
- 1 lb Ground lamb or beef
- 2 cups Onion(finely diced)
- 1 Green chili(spicy, finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp Ground coriander
- 1 tbsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1 can Tomato sauce(8 oz)
- 1 tbsp White vinegar
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 cup Yogurt(for serving)
- 1/4 cup Fresh cilantro(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
For the dough: In a mixer bowl, combine flour, salt, and 2 tbsp vegetable oil. Gradually add water while mixing until a firm dough forms. Knead by hand for 6-7 minutes or in a mixer for 4 minutes until smooth and firm. Divide into four portions, shape into balls, cover, and let rest for 30 minutes.
- 2
For the filling: In a bowl, combine ground meat, finely diced onions, chopped green chili, coriander, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- 3
For the tomato sauce: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a pan. Add 1/4 cup finely diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, garlic powder, and 1 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, then stir in white vinegar and cook for 2 more minutes. Set aside.
- 4
Roll out one portion of dough very thinly into a rectangular shape. Cut into equal-sized squares.
- 5
Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each square. Fold opposite corners and pinch to seal, or use your preferred dumpling folding method.
- 6
Grease a steamer basket and arrange the dumplings in a single layer, ensuring they don't touch. Steam for 30-35 minutes, or until cooked through.
- 7
Serve the steamed mantu on a platter, topped with the tomato sauce, a dollop of yogurt, and garnished with fresh cilantro.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the dough is firm but pliable for easy shaping.
- ✓Don't overfill the dumplings to prevent them from bursting during steaming.
- ✓If you don't have a steamer, a colander set over a pot of boiling water can work.
🔄 Variations
- Use beef or a mix of lamb and beef for the filling.
- Add finely chopped parsley to the meat filling.
- Serve with a garlic-yogurt sauce in addition to the tomato sauce.