This homemade manti (Turkish dumplings) comes together in about 40 minutes and is all made from scratch, resulting in a easy weeknight dinner your family will love! Switch up the filling ingredients to suit your taste or use it as a “clean out the fridge” meal to get rid of leftovers and odds and ends! Trust me, you’re going to want to add this delightful dish to your regular rotation.
Ingredient Breakdown
Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp salt
Filling
- 250g ground beef or lamb
- 1 grated white onion
- 1/3 cup minced parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- A couple pinches of pepper
Yogurt Sauce
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 a lemon, juiced
- Salt & pepper to taste
Spiced Butter
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp paprika
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Let’s Get Cooking!
How to Make Homemade Manti
Make the Dough (10-15 minutes): In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, water, and salt. Gradually add the flour, stirring with a spoon until you form a shaggy dough. Transfer it to a clean work surface. You’ll want to knead it for about 10-15 minutes until it’s soft and smooth. If the dough is too dry, just wet your hands a little while kneading. Cover it with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 30 minutes (the longer, the better!).
Prepare the Filling (5-10 minutes): While your dough is resting, let’s whip up the filling! In a bowl, combine ground meat, grated onion, minced parsley, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Get your hands in there, and mix it until it’s all well combined.
Roll Out the Dough (5 minutes): Once your dough has rested, divide it into 4 sections, keep the remaining parts covered so they don’t dry out! Roll out one section as thin as possible (think pizza dough thin). Cut into small squares, about 2-3 inches each.
Fill the Dumplings (15 minutes): Add a small spoonful of meat filling to the center of each square. Now, here’s the fun part! Pinch the corners together to seal them. You’ll want to ensure they’re tight because nobody wants a burst dumpling in boiling water. Repeat this until all your dough and filling are used up.
Cook the Dumplings (8-10 minutes): Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Drop in the manti, and boil for 8-10 minutes, or until they float to the top. They’re done when they’re tender yet slightly al dente.
Make the Garlic Yogurt Sauce and Spiced Butter (5 minutes): While the dumplings are cooking, combine the Greek yogurt, minced garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. For the spiced butter, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in tomato paste, paprika, and red pepper flakes until fragrant, around 1-2 minutes.
Serve It Up (3 minutes): To serve, spread some garlic yogurt on a plate, pile on your boiled dumplings, and drizzle the spiced butter over the top. Garnish with fresh herbs if you have them! Oh, and don’t skip this step; it’s like a delicious little hug for your manti!
Voila! You’ve just made the most delightful homemade manti that’s sure to impress everyone at the dinner table!
My Love for This Recipe
This is my go-to recipe for when I want to make something comforting and special, yet it’s surprisingly simple! Seriously, every time I whip up a batch, it brings back memories of family dinners and cozy gatherings. I’m a real sucker for this dish because it reminds me of my travels and the warmth of sharing food with loved ones. Plus, the best part is, you can customize every aspect of it! So, if you’re left with a few odds and ends in your fridge, just toss them in.
If you loved this manti recipe, be sure to check out my Turkish Pasta, my Turkish Pita, or my Turkish Stuffed Eggplant KARNIYARIK!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
This dish comes together all in about 40 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights when you want something homemade but don’t have all night to spend in the kitchen.
Customizable
Use whatever ingredients you have! Fancy beef today? Go for it. Feeling like chicken? No problem! You can easily adapt this to suit any taste preference or dietary need.
Comfort Food
I mean, who doesn’t love a tender, warm dumpling smothered in creamy yogurt and buttery goodness? It’s the ultimate cozy meal that’s loaded with tons of flavor. Honestly, who needs takeout?!
Make-Ahead Friendly
You can prepare the dough and filling in advance, and even freeze the manti before boiling them. Take them out for a quick meal any time!
Family-Friendly
Kids and adults alike will devour these manti! My picky eaters always ask for seconds, and you know that’s a win in my book.
Serving and Storage Tips
What to Serve With This
These manti are divine on their own, but you can pair them with a simple side salad or some crusty bread to soak up all that delicious yogurt and spiced butter!
How Long It Keeps
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for about 3-4 days, if they last that long!
Best Method to Reheat
To reheat, just sprinkle a bit of water over them and pop them in the microwave for a minute or two. If you prefer a crispier texture, you can quickly pan-fry them after boiling.
Freezer Friendly
Yes! You can freeze the assembled manti before boiling. Just lay them out on a baking sheet to freeze, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready to eat, boil them directly from frozen, just add a couple extra minutes to the cook time!
And there you have it! A step-by-step guide to making homemade manti that’s not only quick and easy but incredibly satisfying. You’ll find it’s perfect for those nights when you want something unique but don’t want to spend all evening in the kitchen. I can almost smell the delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen, you’re going to love it!
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Homemade Manti
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, water, and salt. Gradually add the flour, stirring with a spoon until you form a shaggy dough.
- Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and knead for about 10-15 minutes until it’s soft and smooth. Cover with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.
- In a bowl, combine ground meat, grated onion, minced parsley, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Once your dough has rested, divide it into 4 sections. Roll out one section as thin as possible and cut into squares, about 2-3 inches each.
- Add a small spoonful of meat filling to the center of each square. Pinch the corners together to seal them tightly.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Drop in the manti and boil for 8-10 minutes, or until they float to the top.
- Combine Greek yogurt, minced garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stir in tomato paste, paprika, and red pepper flakes until fragrant.
- Spread garlic yogurt on a plate, pile on your boiled dumplings, and drizzle the spiced butter over the top. Garnish with fresh herbs if you have them.