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Russian Dumplings Boraki
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5 from 2 votes

Russian Dumplings: Teigtaschen Boraki (Manji)



Valerie in the Kitchen with Nadja Kerstane from "A New Way of Cooking" making Russian Dumplings like Pelmeni, but in a traditional Armenian Boraki shape, also very similar to Manti or Mantu dumplings.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Pasta
Cuisine: Russian German Canadian
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Valerie Lugonja via Nadja Kerstane

Ingredients

Ingredients for the Dough

  • 250 grams or 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 500 grams flour

Ingredients for the Filling

  • 250 grams or 9.5 ounces onion , cleaned and quartered
  • 500 grams or one pound know your farmer fatty beef (40% fat)
  • 2 teaspoons or 10 grams vinegar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for a Simple Broth Sauce

  • 1 litre organic beef broth

Ingredients for a Simple Tomato Sauce

  • 50 grams onion
  • 10 grams Olive oil
  • 500 grams tomato sauce
  • 500 grams water
  • 180 grams tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • lots of freshly ground pepper
  • ½ cup heavy cream , sour cream, yogurt, if desired
  • 2 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley , finely chopped, if desired

Instructions

Instructions for Dough

  • Weigh water and salt into TM bowl; mix together 2 seconds speed 2
  • Weigh in flour; combine for 5 seconds on speed 4 until ingredients clump together
  • Knead for 3.5 minutes; remove from bowl and set aside (bowl should appear “clean”)

Instructions for Filling

  • Without cleaning TM bowl, weigh onion into TM bowl; using spatula through hole in lid, set time for 2 seconds and go from speed 1-6 plunging spatula through hole on lid to keep ingredients close to blade
  • Set time for 1 second, with spatula through hole in lid, plunge immediately and turn speed directly to speed 6; check the ingredients and repeat one more time for ½ a second to a second, if needed (onion must be finely minced, but not liquid)
  • Weigh meat into TM bowl; add vinegar, salt and freshly ground pepper
  • Set time to 2 seconds and repeat the same fast plunging action with stopping and starting the mixing process going to speed 6 again exactly as with onions
  • Repeat for 1 more second only, if needed (be careful not to mix meat into pate or paste consistency; mixing by hand works well at this point, too, but TM is much faster

Instructions for Rolling Dough

  • Cut dough into thirds; lightly flour work surface and roll large rectangle to pasta thickness (1/16th inch or thinner): a pasta roller would work well for this if you have one

Instructions for Individual Parcels and Steaming (in Varoma for TM owners)

  • If freezing, prepare baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside OR if steaming immediately, butter bottom and shelves of steamer (Varoma using Thermomix)
  • Divide large rectangle into 3-inch horizontal strips; trim edges
  • Divide each strip into 3 inch squares (approximate); place a generous dollop of filling in the middle of each square (a good meatball sized portion)
  • Pull all 4 corners of pasta square up to meet in middle over meat; pinch together
  • Pinch each of 4 sides together to close;
  • Take 2 corners of pasta and pinch together to close; repeat on opposite side
  • Place on greased steamer shelf or on parchment covered sheet pan; repeat until finished
  • Freeze over night; pack into labeled and dated freezer bags until ready to use OR set over sauce or boiling water and steam for 20-25 minutes until done
  • If using Thermomix, prepare 1 litre or more of sauce in TM bowl; set to Varoma and steam for 18-20 minutes or until done
  • Serve immediately with favourite sauce or butter and salt and pepper

Instructions for Rope Rolls and Simmering in Pan:

  • Lightly oil heavy skillet; set aside
  • Divide large rectangle into 2-inch vertical strips; place 9 to 10 half teaspoon portions of filling along each strip leaving enough space to pinch dough together in between
  • Pinch ends of rope together; pinch between meat portions along strip of dough ending by pinching the dough together after last portion of meat filling
  • Roll filled pockets into circle; place into prepared skillet
  • Repeat process until skillet is filled with rolled ropes: each is one portion and one to three portions per person is a serving
  • Cover with a light sauce of choice; bring to boil, then simmer at medium-low heat for 25 minutes or until done
  • Serve immediately with a tossed green salad and crusty bread for dipping into the sauce

Instructions for the Simple Sauce in the Thermomix Machine

  • Weigh onion into TM bowl; chop for 0.5 seconds on Turbo
  • Weigh in olive oil; sauté for 5 minutes at Varoma on speed 2
  • Weigh in all other ingredients; place Varoma with pasta parcels on top ready for steaming
  • Set time for 25 minutes, temperature on Varoma and speed 2; cook longer if needed (watch how long it takes to get to Varoma temperature; it will likely take 25 minutes to steam after that)
  • Add cream, yogurt, or sour cream to sauce with chopped parsley, if desired; pour over pasta and serve immediately