Mantı: Discover Turkey's Tiny Dumplings with Garlic Yoghurt

Sometimes referred to as Turkish dumplings, mantı is one of the country's most distinctive comfort foods.

Tiny parcels of dough are traditionally filled with seasoned meat, cooked, and then topped with garlicky yoghurt and a fragrant butter sauce.

Ingredients

For the dough

• 300g plain flour
• 1 egg
• Approximately 100ml water
• ½ tsp salt

For the filling

• 250g minced beef or lamb
• 1 small onion, very finely grated
• Salt
• Black pepper

For the yoghurt

• 300g thick natural yoghurt
• 2 garlic cloves
• Pinch of salt

For the butter sauce

• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp pul biber

How to Make Mantı

1. Mix the flour, egg, salt and enough water to produce a firm dough. Knead well and allow it to rest.
2. Mix the meat with grated onion, salt and pepper.
3. Roll the dough very thinly and cut it into small squares. Put a tiny amount of filling in the centre of each square and pinch the edges together.
4. Cook the mantı in gently boiling salted water until the pasta is tender and the filling is thoroughly cooked.
5. Combine the yoghurt with crushed garlic. Melt the butter and gently stir in the paprika and pul biber.

The Perfect Bowl

Spoon the garlic yoghurt over the warm mantı and finish with the sizzling spiced butter. You can also add dried mint or sumac.

It takes a little patience to prepare, but homemade mantı is Turkish comfort food at its finest.