Manti (Armenian Baked Meat Dumplings with Garlic Yogurt)
Local name: Մանթի
In short: Small open-topped dumplings of spiced lamb in thin dough, baked crisp, then finished in tomato broth and served with garlic yogurt. It takes about 1 h 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 1 h 15 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Calories
- 560 kcal
Armenian manti are tiny boat-shaped dumplings, filled with seasoned minced lamb or beef and baked until crisp before being finished in a tomato broth. The result is crunchy and soft in the same bite. They are served hot with garlic yogurt and a sprinkle of dried mint or sumac. Shaping takes time, so many families make them as a group project for a weekend meal.
Instructions
- Mix the flour and salt, add the egg and water and knead for 8 minutes to a firm, smooth dough. Wrap and rest for 30 minutes.
- Mix the meat with the onion, parsley, salt, pepper and paprika. Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F) and oil a large baking dish or tray.
- Roll the dough out to 2 mm (1/16 in) thick and cut it into 5 cm (2 in) squares. Put 1 teaspoon of filling in the center of each square.
- Pinch two opposite corners together over the filling, then pinch the other two corners, to make a small boat with the meat showing at the open ends. Set the manti close together in the dish.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the dough is golden and crisp and the meat is cooked through to 71°C (160°F).
- Whisk the hot stock with the tomato paste and butter and pour it over the manti. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes more, until about half of the broth has been absorbed.
- Stir the garlic into the yogurt with a pinch of salt. Serve the manti hot, topped with the garlic yogurt, dried mint and sumac.
Tips
- Roll the dough very thin, about 2 mm, or the manti turn doughy instead of crisp. Dust with flour so the squares do not stick.
- Bake the manti dry first until golden, and only then add the hot broth. This keeps some crunch on the edges.
Questions and answers
Can I make manti ahead of time?
Shape them and freeze them on a tray for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding about 5 minutes to the baking time.
How are Armenian manti different from other manti?
Armenian manti are usually baked first and then finished in broth, while many versions elsewhere are boiled. They are also smaller and open at the top.
What do you serve with manti?
Garlic yogurt, a sprinkle of sumac and dried mint, and a simple salad of tomatoes and herbs.
How long does it take to make Manti (Armenian Baked Meat Dumplings with Garlic Yogurt)?
About 1 h 55 min in total: 1 h 15 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Manti (Armenian Baked Meat Dumplings with Garlic Yogurt)?
About 560 kcal per serving, with 26 g of protein, 62 g of carbohydrates and 21 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 560 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 26 g |
| Carbohydrates | 62 g |
| Fat | 21 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
