Shishbarak - Meat Dumplings in Yogurt

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Wrapping Dough

1. 1
   In a bowl, mix the flour and salt.

   Bowl
2. 2
   Add the water and Knead about 5 minutes, until you get a smooth, soft dough that doesn't stick to your hands.

   ⚙ KneadingBowlStand mixer

   💡If the dough sticks, add a tablespoon of flour; if it crumbles, a tablespoon of water. Good dough is as soft as an earlobe.
3. 3
   Cover and let the dough rest 30 minutes at room temperature.

   💡Oil-and-water dough needs no rising: the rest relaxes the gluten, so the dough rolls out thin without shrinking back.

For the Meatball mix

1. 4
   Mix the ground meat with the onion, baharat and cinnamon until evenly combined.

To assemble

1. 5
   Roll out the dough thin. Cut out 5 cm rounds.

   ⚙ Rolling Out DoughRolling pinCookie cutter

   💡Roll from the center outward and give the dough a quarter turn between rolls: this keeps it even in thickness and stops it sticking to the counter. If it springs back, cover for 10–15 minutes and try again.
2. 6
   Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of each round, wrap into a triangle and press the edges firmly together.

   💡Press the edges together firmly: a dumpling that opens while cooking loses its filling to the sauce.
3. 7
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F).

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
4. 8
   Bake the dumplings on a parchment-lined baking sheet 15 minutes, until the dumplings are golden.

   ⚙ BakingOvenBaking panParchment paper

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
5. 9
   Put the yogurt, egg, flour, garlic and salt in a pot and heat slowly over a low flame. Stir constantly until the yogurt sauce is hot and thick, and don't let it boil.

   StovePotWhisk

   💡Yogurt that boils splits into curds: heat it over low heat and stir constantly.
6. 10
   Add the dumplings and the mint to the thickened sauce and serve immediately.