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Boiled meat khinkali (Georgian dumplings) on a plate.

Traditional Meat Khinkali (Georgian Dumplings) Recipe

This traditional meat mtiuluri khinkali (Georgian soup dumpling) recipe takes inspiration from the mountain villages that these dumplings originated from. The filling is soupy and well-seasoned with some heat from crushed chili flakes, while the dough is a simple combination of water and flour.
4.50 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Georgian
Servings 30 dumplings
Calories 115 kcal
Disclosure

The equipment and ingredients sections contain affiliate links to products I love to use as well as items that I personally believe make this recipe the best version of itself.

Ingredients
 
 

Khinkali Dough

  • 563 grams all-purpose flour
  • 355 ml water, cold
  • 2 teaspoon salt

Meat Khinkali Filling

  • 250 grams ground pork
  • 250 grams ground beef
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon chili flakes add more if you want it spicier
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper powder
  • ½ teaspoon powdered cumin
  • 295 grams water, room temperature
  • 1 large onion, grated or minced it should be a bit juicy from the grating/mincing
  • 6 cloves garlic, grated
  • 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder optional

Instructions
 

Make the Dough

  • Combine salt and flour to a bowl and mix. Add the water and stir with a spatula until shaggy.
    Shaggy khinkali dough
  • Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead nonstop for 6-8 minutes until smooth. Then put the dough back in its bowl and cover tightly to let it rest for 30 minutes.
    Kneaded dough shaped into a ball in a bowl

Make the Khinkali Filling

  • Add the meat and seasonings minus the water. Stir until well combined.
    A bowl of minced meat, chopped onions, and other seasonings.
  • Add half a cup of water and stir slowly until the water disappears. Repeat this step two more times.
    A half cup of water poured into a mixed minced meat in a glass bowl
  • The meat should have absorb all the water and will look almost gelatinized. If you shake the bowl, it will be jiggly.
    Bowl of minced meat with water added to it.

Assemble the Khinkali

  • Split the dough in half, cover one and set it aside. Work with the other half first. Roll the dough and split it into 15 equal-sized pieces.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out a piece to about 12 cm (~5 in) in diameter and 1-2 mm thick.
  • Place a heaping tablespoon of filling in the center. Make sure to leave plenty of room from the edge of the circle.
    A scoop of minced meat filling in the middle of a dumpling wrapper.
  • Begin making pleats by folding around the khinkali. Try to make at least 13 folds, but if you can make more, do more.
    A hand folding a dumpling around a meat filling.
  • Keep folding until you can close the khinkali by pinching the stem together.
    Closed and pleated khinkali on a gray plate.
  • Seal it by snipping off a bit of the top end with kitchen scissors. Set the dumpling on top of a floured plate.
    A view of the top of khinkali with a snipped stem.
  • Place the prepared khinkali on a floured plate. Repeat the steps with the additional pieces and the other half of the dough.
    Closeup of several khinkali (Georgian dumplings) on a floured gray plate.

Cook the Khinkali

  • Fill a large pot 75% full with water and add in a large pinch of salt. Set on the stovetop on high medium heat and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat to medium or to a gentle boil. Add a few of the dumplings and then gently stir the water.
    Meat khinkali (Georgian dumplings) in boiling water.
  • Cook the dumplings for about 5 - 7 minutes. Then gently strain the dumplings a few at a time so they do not break from the sharp edges of the strainer.
    A piece of meat khinkali on a strainer.
  • Add to a plate and serve immediately.
    Closeup of meat dumplings with pepper on top of them.

Nutrition

Calories: 115kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 5gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 305mgPotassium: 81mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 80IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated with the Spoonacular Food API and should be used for informational purposes only.
Keyword dumplings, georgian dumplings, georgian meat dumplings, georgian soup dumplings, khinkali, meat khinkali, mtiuluri khinkali, soup dumplings