Manty (Kazakh Steamed Lamb and Pumpkin Dumplings)
Local name: мәнті
In short: Large steamed dumplings filled with hand-chopped lamb, onion and pumpkin, with a very juicy center, served with sour cream. It takes about 1 h 45 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 1 h
- Cook
- 45 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 45 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Calories
- 660 kcal
Manty are the big, juicy steamed dumplings that Kazakhs make for family dinners and holidays. Each is the size of a small fist, filled with hand-chopped lamb, onion and often pumpkin, which melts into the meat juices as it steams. The dough is pinched into a round purse and steamed in tiers, and the juices pool inside. Serve them hot with sour cream and black pepper.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, salt, water and oil into a firm dough. Knead for 8 minutes until smooth, wrap and rest for 30 minutes.
- Combine the lamb, onions, pumpkin, fat, salt, pepper, cumin and cold water. Mix by hand for 1 minute and leave for 15 minutes so the onions release their juice.
- Roll the dough out as thin as you can, about 1.5 mm (1/16 in). Cut into 10 cm (4 in) squares or circles.
- Put 2 tablespoons of filling in the center of each. Bring the edges up around the filling, pleat and pinch them together at the top to form a round purse, sealing tightly.
- Oil the steamer tiers well and arrange the manty with space between them, since they swell as they steam.
- Steam over boiling water for 40 to 45 minutes, until the dough is translucent and the filling is cooked through (71°C/160°F).
- Serve hot with sour cream and a grind of black pepper.
Tips
- Hand-chopped meat gives a juicier filling than ground meat. If you use ground lamb, add a little more fat and water so the filling does not turn dry.
- Fill and seal dumplings quickly, and keep the unused dough covered. Dry edges will not stick together.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze manty?
Yes. Freeze the shaped, uncooked manty on a tray, then bag them for up to 2 months. Steam from frozen for 50 to 55 minutes.
Do I need a special steamer?
A multi-tier steamer, called a mantyshnitsa, is traditional. A bamboo steamer or a metal steamer insert with a lid also works. Cook in batches.
Why add pumpkin?
Pumpkin adds sweetness and moisture to the lamb. Many cooks make manty with pumpkin only in autumn and winter.
How long does it take to make Manty (Kazakh Steamed Lamb and Pumpkin Dumplings)?
About 1 h 45 min in total: 1 h of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Manty (Kazakh Steamed Lamb and Pumpkin Dumplings)?
About 660 kcal per serving, with 28 g of protein, 72 g of carbohydrates and 29 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 660 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 28 g |
| Carbohydrates | 72 g |
| Fat | 29 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 1000 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
