Russian Pelmeni (Meat Ravioli) Пельмени

Ingredients: 
For the Dough:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg
2/3 cups cold water
1 tbsp salt

For the filling:
1 lb any ground meat (you can mix different types of meat too)
1 onion
Salt and pepper to taste
1 bunch parsley if desired 


For the Dough:
Place flour on a work surface (if you have never done this before, place flour in a large bowl). At the top make a grove with your fingers.
Beat an egg in it, add 1 tbsp of salt and a little bit of water.
Start kneading the dough, pushing the bottom flour on top of water. As you work along the dough will stick to fingers, just take the dough off the fingers and keep kneading for about 5 minutes. Keep adding water little by little, you don't want to add too much water or else the dough will be too soft and sticky.
Place the dough on a flat surface and  knead until it is smooth and is not too soft. All together kneading will take about 10-15 minutes. In the end it shouldn't stick to hands.
Place the dough in a bowl and cover with paper towel and leave for 20 minutes.

In the meantime prepare the filling:
Place meat in the bowl and break it apart with a spoon. Chop the onion really well or run it through in a food processor ( food processor will give it the correct consistency).
Add onion, salt, pepper and mix well.
You can also add some parsley or any other herb, but chop it well or run it in a food processor with the onion.


Place wax paper on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with some flour.
Place some flour on a work surface and knead the dough a little to soften it.
Cut 1/4 of a dough, knead it some more and roll it in to a ball.
Roll the dough in to a very thin sheet, about 1/8 inch thin.
Take a cup or a glass, flip it and dip in the flour, cut circles out of the dough. If the dough starts sticking to the cup keep dipping it in the dough.
Collect the left out dough and knead it back in to the rest of the dough.
Place one of the dough circle in your hand, add half of teaspoon of filling, bend the dough in half to cover the filling, pinch the edges together to close the filling. Than bring 2 corners together and seal them.
Place on a cookie sheet. Continue with the rest of the dough and filling.
When you're done you can cook the Pelmeni right away by dropping them in a boiling salted water, bring to a boil again and cook for 10-20 minutes depending on the size of your Pelmeni.
Take them out, place in a bowl and add 1 tbsp of butter, mix to cover the Pelmeni with butter.
Or you can place the cookie sheet with Pelmeni in a freezer over night, than store in a zip-lock bag for about a month.

Serve with sour cream, mayo or any sauce you like.
Enjoy!

Russian Napoleon Cake with Strawberries (Наполеон с Клубникой)

This is a very delicious recipe, perfect for valentines day or just a special occasion. 

Ingredients:
6 squares puff pastry dough (5in x 5in)
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
6 strawberries

Serves 2


1. Spray baking sheet with oil. Spread dough on a sheet, brush lightly with beaten egg and sprinkle with some sugar. Bake at 350F oven for 15-20 minutes.
2. In the mean time, beat heavy cream with powdered sugar until smooth and thick.


3. Slice the strawberries.

4. Cool dough completely.











5. Spread the whipped cream on first piece of dough, lay out strawberries, cover with another piece of dough, continue the same with whipped cream and strawberries. Use 3 pieces of dough on each cake.

Russian Julienne with Mushrooms and Chicken in Bread ( Жульен в Булочках с Курицей и Грибами)

In Russia this recipe counts as fancy meal. Not everyone risks to make it, because people think its really complicated and takes a while to make. But the truth is that its very easy and fast to make. In fact, its so easy to make that I make it for lunch. My husband eats it just like a burger. I personally, before eating take the top off and rip the crust pieces off and dip it in the Julienne. No matter how you eat it, its delicious and everyone will love it!

Ingredients:



3 fresh buns
1 lb white mushrooms
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 chicken breast
3 tbsp sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp butter
Sharp chedar cheese, shredded 








1. In a hot pan, pour oil and add butter.
2. When butter starts sizzling add the mushrooms and onions.

3. Cook until juices evaporate and lightly fry until golden.
4. Add flour, mix well. Add sour cream, simmer for 5 mins, season with salt and pepper, pour in the heavy cream.

5. Cut chicken breast into cubes and fry over medium heat until cooked through.

6. Add the chicken to mushrooms, mix well.
7. Cut the tops of the buns.

Take out the crumb, leaving just the crust. With fingers press down the bottoms and sides of buns and stuff with mushrooms and chicken.

8. Top with cheese and sesame seeds.

9. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
10. Put the buns on a cookie sheet and bake until cheese melts completely.

Russian Cutlet with Mushrooms (Котлеты с грибами)

These cutlets are very light and tasty, and very easy to make. My husband and I used to buy these cutlets in our local Russian store, but I decided to come up with my own recipe and stop wasting our money on store bought pre-made food, and not knowing what they are made of, and who touched them and if they washed their hands. After all, my homemade cutlets turned out to be a lot tastier and juicier than store bought. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 big yellow onion, 1/2 finely chopped, 1/2 chopped
1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
2 medium sized slices of white bread
1 cup milk
5 oz provolone cheese, grated 
6 oz white mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp dill, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely diced
4 tbsp sour cream
6 tbsp vegetable oil
Salt, pepper to taste







1. Soak bread in milk for 15 mins.
2. Over medium heat, heat 2 tbsp oil in a skillet. Fry chopped onions and 1 garlic clove until soft and browned on edges.
3. Add mushrooms, fry for 8-10 mins. Salt and pepper.

Add 2 tbsp sour cream, mix and cook for another minute. Take off of heat, add dill and mix well.
4. Press milk out of the bread. Break into crumbs or run it in food processor (I pressed it with garlic press).
5. Add bread, finely chopped onion, garlic, cilantro, salt, pepper, to ground meat.

Mix well, and pick it up and throw it back in the bowl few times.
6. Over medium heat, heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet.
7. Form 2 inch diameter patties, 1/2 inch thick. Fry for 4 mins, flip, cover with a lid and fry for 4 more mins.

If you have another batch of patties to cook, change oil.
8. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Place cooked patties on a baking sheet, spread some sour cream on each patty.

9. Place 1 tbsp of mushrooms on each patty. 

Top with cheese, pressing the mushrooms down a little, so that the cheese wouldn't fall off. 
10. Bake for 25 mins.

Russian Fried Potatoes (Жареный Картофель)

Growing up in Ukrainian family, I grew up eating these potatoes almost every day. In Ukraine, every household have their own way of making fried potatoes. Even my mom makes it different than me, but this recipe is my way of making these potatoes. I hope you like it!

Ingredients:

1 lb potatoes

3 tbsp vegetable oil (for frying)

Salt, pepper to taste

Dill for garnish

1. Slice the potatoes.

2. In a bowl, mix potatoes, salt and pepper.

3. Over medium heat, heat oil in a large skillet.

4. Place potatoes in a skillet, in one layer, so it wouldn't go one on one.

5. Fry for 2-3 mins on each side, until golden.

6. Place cooked potatoes on a paper towel.

7. Garnish with dill.