Preparation Time: 45 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup water (adjust as needed)

For the Filling:

• 250g (1/2 pound) ground beef or lamb
• 1 small onion, finely grated
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Salt, to taste

For the Yogurt Sauce:

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt, to taste

For the Spiced Butter Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried mint (optional)

For Garnish:

• Fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Sumac or additional paprika (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dough:
   • In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Make a well in the center and add the egg and water. Mix together until a dough forms.
   • Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
   • Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest for about 30 minutes.
2. Make the Filling:
   • In a bowl, combine the ground beef or lamb, grated onion, cumin, black pepper, and salt. Mix well to create the filling.
3. Roll and Shape the Manti:
   • After the dough has rested, divide it into 2-3 portions. Roll each portion out thinly (about 1/16 inch thick) on a floured surface.
   • Cut the dough into small squares, about 1-2 inches wide.
   • Place a small amount (about 1/2 teaspoon) of filling in the center of each square.
   • Fold each square into a tiny bundle by bringing all four corners to the center and pinching the edges to seal, forming a little dumpling.
   • Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
4. Cook the Manti:
   • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
   • Gently drop the manti into the boiling water, being careful not to overcrowd the pot.
   • Cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until the dumplings float to the surface and are fully cooked.
5. Prepare the Yogurt Sauce:
   • In a bowl, combine the yogurt, minced garlic, and salt. Mix until smooth. Set aside.
6. Prepare the Spiced Butter Sauce:
   • In a small pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the paprika, red pepper flakes (if using), and dried mint. Heat the spices for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat.
7. Assemble the Manti:
   • Drain the cooked manti and transfer to serving plates.
   • Spoon the garlic yogurt sauce over the manti.
   • Drizzle the spiced butter sauce on top of the yogurt.
   • Garnish with chopped parsley and sprinkle with sumac or paprika if desired.
8. Serve:
   • Serve the manti immediately, and enjoy this delicious Turkish dish!

Tips:

• If you want to save time, you can use store-bought wonton wrappers instead of making the dough from scratch.
• You can freeze the uncooked manti for future meals. Just place them on a tray in the freezer, and once frozen, transfer to a bag. Cook them straight from frozen when ready to use.
• For a vegetarian option, substitute the meat filling with a mixture of finely chopped vegetables or mashed potatoes.

Nutritional Information (per serving, based on 4 servings):

• Calories: 500 kcal
• Total Fat: 25g
  • Saturated Fat: 12g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 140mg
• Sodium: 550mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 42g
  • Dietary Fiber: 2g
  • Sugars: 4g
• Protein: 24g

Enjoy this rich, flavorful, and comforting Heavenly Turkish Manti for an authentic taste of Turkish cuisine!