TURKISH MANTI / Mantu (Dumplings With Meat & Vegetarian Filling Ideas)

ground lamb

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground beef

Ground turkey is lower in fat, while ground beef is often less expensive.

yogurt

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: sour cream

Greek yogurt provides a similar creaminess with fewer calories.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil is healthier, while margarine can be a cheaper alternative.

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: bread flour

Whole wheat flour increases fiber, while bread flour may be less expensive.

Introduce the dish and its background.

Prepare the dough by mixing 2/3 cup water, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 medium-sized egg, and 2.5 cups all-purpose flour.

Knead the dough for 1-2 minutes until it becomes a stiff, playable dough.

Cut the dough into two pieces, cover with stretch film, and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.

Prepare the meat filling by grating 1 medium-sized onion and mixing it with 250 grams ground beef, 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Prepare the vegetarian filling by sautéing spinach with onion and olive oil, adding white cheese, and seasoning with red pepper flakes and black pepper.

Roll out the rested dough on a floured countertop to a thickness of 1-2 millimeters.

Cut the dough into 2.5 cm squares using a ruler or pizza cutter.

Place the meat filling on each square, shape the mantı by folding and sealing the corners together, ensuring the dough is stiff enough to avoid sticking.

Experiment with different sizes of squares, including 3 cm and 2 cm, for filling and shaping.

Prepare the spinach mantı by cutting 3 cm squares and sealing them into triangles, using larger squares for easier filling.

Ensure the mantı are dusted with flour to prevent sticking before freezing some for later use.

Boil about 1.5 liters of water with salt and olive oil, then add the mantı, stirring gently to avoid overcrowding.

Boil the mantı for 6-8 minutes until they float to the top.

Prepare the yogurt sauce by mixing homemade plain yogurt with crushed garlic.

Make the butter sauce by melting 1-2 heaped tbsp of butter and adding a mix of red pepper flakes and paprika.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens