This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. Like Borsch or Pirojki, Pelmeni are a classic Slavic tradition. They are commonly made with beef, but I’m changing things up with a juicy chicken filling. These chicken pelmeni are time consuming, but are fun to make when you get your whole crew involved. The little fingers in your family will love making shapes out of the dough. Try cooking their creative little shapes, butter them up and enjoy with sour cream; they’ll love it! We had Christmas trees and all kinds of critter shapes in the pot. Recruit some muscle to roll out your dough (the Mr. filled this role very well) 😉 Ground chicken thighs the juiciest of all chicken cuts) works best for this recipe. I realize it’s hard to find pre-ground chicken thighs in the supermarket, so if you don’t have a meat grinder to do it yourself, by all means buy ground chicken breast.
Ingredients for the Chicken Pelmeni:
For the dough:
2/3 cup buttermilk 1 Tbsp sour cream 2 cups warm water 2 large eggs 1/2 Tbsp salt 7 cups + about 6 Tbsp unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more to dust
For the Chicken Filling:
(p.s. click here for a Pork & Turkey Filling) 1 3/4 lb ground chicken thigh (leave the fat on if grinding it yourself) 3/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground black pepper 2 Tbsp Cooking Oil, or mild olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, pressed 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Ingredients/ Ideas for Toppings:
Butter, melted Sour cream, vinegar, ketchup Fresh dill
How to Make Basic Vareniky or Pelmeni Dough:
Using the whisk attachment on medium speed, beat together: 2/3 cup buttermilk, 2 cups water, 2 eggs, 1 Tbsp of sour cream, and 1/2 Tbsp salt until well blended.
Using the dough hook, mix in 4 cups flour. Mix on speed 2 until well blended.
Add 3 more cups of flour one cup at a time, allowing the dough to become well blended with each cup.
Add the rest of the flour 1 Tbsp at a time, until the dough is no longer sticking to the the bowl (I used an additional 6 Tbsp flour). Once dough is no longer sticking to the bowl, continue to mix 5 min. (Total mixing time is about 20-25 minutes from the time you first start adding flour). Your dough should be soft and elastic. Cover your dough with plastic wrap or a tea towel to keep it from drying out until ready to use.
How to Make Chicken Pelmeni Filling:
Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a medium skillet over med/high heat. Add chopped onion and saute until golden and soft (4-5 min) Add garlic and saute another minute then remove from heat.
Mix together: ground chicken 3/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and sauteed onion and garlic.
A handy tip: The KitchenAid mixer is very useful for mixing ground meat so your fingers don’t turn into popsicles if your meat is cold.
If using a pelmeni mold:
Cut off about tennis-ball-size chunks of dough, place over a smooth, lightly floured surface and roll out into a circle that is wider than your mold.
Generously flour your mold and place rolled dough over the mold. Fill each pocket of the mold with 1/2 tsp of your filling.
(Make your husband) Roll out another chunk of dough and place over the mold. Use a rolling pin to role over the top of the second layer of dough on your mold; working from the center – outwards until the pelmeni are well-defined.
Turn the pelmeni maker over and push the pelmeni out with your finger by pushing in the center of each one, or knock the mold against the cutting board to loosen them (if you get so lucky) onto a well-floured cutting board. Kids love popping them out too! If you find any rebel pelmeni with open edges, pinch them to seal or the meat may float out while cooking. Mine turned out nice and plump, but don’t overfill them or they may be hard to pop out of the mold.
If making pelmeni by hand:
- Shape a portion of the dough into a 1 to 2 -inch thick log. Cut off 1 piece at a time (about gum ball sized) and roll into disks to form a 1.5-inch circle with rolling pin. Sprinkle rolling pin and surface with flour if needed. 2. Place 1 tsp pelmeni filling in the center, 3. Fold the dough in half over the meat and pinch the edges tightly to seal the dough. 4. You should have a half-moon shape. Pinch the two corners together to form your classic ravioli/diaper shape.
Freezing Pelmeni for lazy days:
- Place pelmeni onto a well-floured cutting board. Arrange pelmeni evenly on the cutting board, sprinkle with flour and place in the freezer. 6. Once they are fully frozen, transfer to large ziploc bags and freeze them for lazier days.
To Cook Chicken Pelmeni:
Bring a pot of water to boil (add 1 Tbsp salt for a large soup pot, or 1 tsp salt for a smaller 4 quart pot). Add fresh or FROZEN (do not defrost) pelmeni and return to a boil. They should float to the top, then boil for 3 minutes longer (or until meat is fully cooked). Drain pelmeni and place them in a clean bowl. Toss pelmeni with butter and sprinkle with parsley or dill (optional). Serve them warm with ketchup, sour cream or vinegar (my personal favorite).
