
Delicious homemade pelmeni filled with flavorful ground venison, seasoned with juniper berries and herbs, and served with a tart lingonberry sauce. A taste of Russia with a wild twist!
**Prepare the dough:** In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Create a well in the center, add egg and water. Gradually incorporate flour from the sides until a dough forms. Knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest for at least 30 minutes.
**Prepare the filling:** In a separate bowl, combine ground venison, diced onion, crushed juniper berries, thyme, rosemary, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine.
**Assemble the pelmeni:** On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough thinly. Use a cookie cutter or knife to cut out 2-inch circles. Place a small spoonful of the venison filling in the center of each circle. Fold the circle in half to form a crescent shape and pinch the edges to seal. Bring the two points of the crescent together and pinch to create the classic pelmeni shape.
**Cook the pelmeni:** Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Gently drop the pelmeni into the boiling water. Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until they float to the surface and are cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon.
**Prepare the lingonberry sauce:** While the pelmeni are cooking, combine lingonberry preserves, red wine vinegar, and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the sauce is slightly warmed. Adjust sweetness to taste.
**Serve:** Serve the cooked pelmeni hot, drizzled with the lingonberry sauce. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Nutrition per serving (350g)
If the dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time until it comes together. If it's too sticky, add more flour.
You can substitute ground beef or pork for the venison, but the juniper berries really complement the gamey flavor.
Pelmeni can be made ahead of time and frozen. Freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag. Cook from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Adjust the lingonberry sauce sweetness to your liking. Some lingonberry preserves are sweeter than others.
Large pot
Mixing bowls
Rolling pin
Small saucepan
No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.