Manti

Any member of Armenia's vast diaspora will tell you that manti, delectable baked dumplings served in tomato sauce with a garlicky yoghurt on the side, is the dish they miss the most from home. It isn't just the taste that they are missing. It is, without a doubt, Armenia's most social dinner. Almost as soon as the dish is placed on the table, impatient hands will start breaking off the thumb-sized dumplings and dipping them in yoghurt. There are some differences. Some people prefer a hot tomato sauce. Others prefer yoghurt that isn't as garlicky. Manti originated in Western Armenia, although it is popular throughout the country.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 eggs, ½ teaspoon water, or as needed, 2 onions, peeled, ½ pound ground beef, salt and pepper to taste, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 (8 ounce) container plain yogurt

Instructions

• Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the eggs and water, mixing well with your hands. Add more water, if needed, to form a soft dough. Cover and set aside for at least 30 minutes.
• Shred the onions and place them in a colander or sieve set over a bowl; drain the juice and discard. Combine the onion, ground beef, salt, and pepper; mix the meat well with a spoon until mashed.
• Divide the dough into two portions and lightly flour a work surface. Keep one piece of dough covered while you roll out the second portion into a rectangle, rolling the dough as thin as you can. Cut the rectangle into 2-inch squares with a knife or pastry wheel.
• Place about 2 teaspoons of the meat filling in the center of each square. Seal the dumplings by gathering the edges of the dough and pinching them together at the top to form a bundle. Transfer the finished manti to a floured plate, and sprinkle more flour over the manti to prevent sticking. Repeat with the second piece of dough.
• Heat the oil and red pepper flakes in a small skillet over low heat just until the pepper flakes have started to color the oil; don't let them burn. Remove from the heat and keep warm. Stir the minced garlic into the yogurt and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook the manti until the filling is no longer pink, and the dough is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain well. Divide the manti among four plates. Spoon the yogurt sauce over the manti and drizzle each serving with the hot pepper oil.