Name: Central Asian Beef and Lamb Dumplings
Cook time: 1 1/2 hours
Total time: 4 hours
Yield: Makes 8 first-course servings
Ingredients: 1 (1/4-lb) piece boneless lamb shoulder; 1 (1/4-lb) piece boneless chuck; 1 medium onion (6 oz), finely chopped; 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro; 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 2 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for dusting; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 2 large eggs; 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon water; Accompaniments: melted butter; sour cream; a mortar and pestle or an electric coffee/spice grinder; a 3-inch round cutter

Manti

The lamb will be easier to cut if it has been well chilled. Adding the salt to the filling just before forming the manti prevents the meat from curing.

Cooks' notes:

·Filling can be chilled up to 24 hours. ·Dough (before rolling out) can be chilled, wrapped in plastic wrap, up to 24 hours.

Recipe notes

Sofrito Bolognese

An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.

Grape Dumplings

Native American people made these with cornmeal dumplings, simmering them with wild grapes, which were harvested at their peak sweetness.

Pan-Fried Turmeric Bread (Kubez Kimaaj)

Kubez bread, a.k.a. kimaaj, is an Arabic flatbread or pita bread. It’s a staple in the Middle East used as an accompaniment for various dishes or as a wrap.

Wampanoaug Clam Fritters

The clams’ natural briny sweetness serves as a surprising foil for the tender fritter batter—just be sure to pull off the tough outer coating of the siphon.

Beef Stroganoff Ramen

This traditional dish of beef, sour cream, and mustard may have originated in Russia, but it’s about time for a version with ramen noodles, don’t you think?

Fufu

Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.

Stir-Fried Phở Noodles With Beef

This dish is not only a quick meal option but also a practical way to use leftover phở noodles when you’re out of broth.

Moo Ping (Thai Grilled Pork Skewers)

This version of pork skewers is made in the oven, which tastes just as good, but you could always throw these on the grill for a version closer to the original.