Turkish Cheesy Manti Delight (Print View)

Bite-sized cheesy dumplings with garlicky yogurt and a spiced butter drizzle, capturing Turkish flavors.

# Components:

→ Dough

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1/2 cup water, plus more as needed

→ Cheese Filling

05 - 1 cup Turkish white cheese or feta, crumbled
06 - 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
07 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Yogurt Sauce

09 - 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
10 - 1 garlic clove, minced
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Spiced Butter

12 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
13 - 1 teaspoon paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or chili flakes

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Create a well in the center and add egg and water. Mix and knead until smooth and elastic, adding water if necessary. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
02 - Mix Turkish white cheese, ricotta, parsley, and black pepper in a bowl until well combined.
03 - Combine Greek yogurt, minced garlic, and salt in a bowl. Stir until smooth and set aside.
04 - Roll out the rested dough on a lightly floured surface until thin, about 2 mm. Cut into 1.5-inch squares.
05 - Place roughly 1/2 teaspoon of cheese filling in the center of each dough square. Pinch corners together to seal and form dumplings.
06 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add dumplings in batches and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until they float and are tender. Drain thoroughly.
07 - Melt butter in a small pan. Stir in paprika and Aleppo pepper; cook for 30 seconds until aromatic.
08 - Arrange dumplings on plates. Spoon yogurt sauce on top, drizzle with spiced butter, and garnish with extra parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These little pockets are forgiving enough for beginners but satisfying enough to make again and again.
  • The contrast between creamy cheese, cool yogurt, and warm spiced butter hits differently than any other dumpling you've tried.
02 -
  • The dough thickness is non-negotiable—if it's too thick, the manti feels heavy and doughy rather than delicate.
  • Don't skip the rest time for the dough, and watch the water carefully when cooking since overdone manti turns mushy and loses everything that makes them special.
03 -
  • If your filling leaks during cooking, don't panic—it happens to everyone, and the manti will still taste delicious even if they look a little rougher.
  • A light dusting of sumac on top adds a subtle brightness that makes people ask what the secret ingredient is.
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