Afghan Meat Filled Pasta Mantou Recipe

Discover the rich flavors of Afghanistan with this authentic meat-filled mantou recipe! Inspired by a 1990s Minnesota restaurant cookbook, these delicate steamed dumplings boast a savory meat filling, complemented by vibrant tomato and cool yogurt sauces. A perfect blend of textures and tastes, this recipe is a culinary journey you won't forget.

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 120 mins
Calories 482.6 kcal
Protein 59g
Rating 4.0 (1 Reviews)
Afghan Meat Filled Pasta Mantou

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Passionate home cook & Forktionary contributor.

Ingredients for Afghan Meat Filled Pasta Mantou

  • Ground Beef
  • Onions
  • 1 medium diced green bell pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Ground Coriander
  • Salt
  • Ground Black Pepper
  • Cayenne
  • Water
  • Wonton Wrappers
  • Yogurt
  • Yellow Onion
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Oil
  • Carrot
  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • Dried Mint
  • Fresh Cilantro

How to Make Afghan Meat Filled Pasta Mantou

  1. **Yogurt Sauce:**
  2. In a bowl, whisk together 1 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
  3. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  4. **Tomato Sauce:**
  5. Finely slice 1/2 medium yellow onion. In a medium saucepan, boil the onion slices in 1 1/2 cups of water until tender (about 10 minutes).
  6. Drain the onions, reserving the cooking liquid.
  7. In a blender, combine the cooked onions, 8 ounces (1 cup) canned tomato sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  8. Blend until smooth.
  9. Pour the tomato sauce into a medium saucepan. Add 1 cup of diced carrots and 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed. Simmer until carrots are tender (about 15 minutes).
  10. **Meat Filling & Assembly:**
  11. In a large skillet, brown 1 pound ground lamb or beef with 2 diced medium onions, 1 diced green bell pepper, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
  12. Add 2 cups of water to the skillet and simmer until the water evaporates and the meat is cooked through (about 15-20 minutes).
  13. Let the meat mixture cool slightly.
  14. Place approximately 1 tablespoon of the meat mixture in the center of each wonton wrapper.
  15. Wet the edges of the wonton wrapper with water.
  16. Fold two opposite corners together to meet in the center and firmly seal.
  17. Repeat with the remaining two corners, creating a sealed dumpling.
  18. Repeat with remaining filling and wonton wrappers.
  19. **Steaming & Serving:**
  20. Lightly oil a metal vegetable steamer basket.
  21. Arrange the filled wontons in the steamer basket, ensuring they aren't overcrowded.
  22. Cover and steam for 15-20 minutes, or until the wontons are cooked through and the filling is heated.
  23. To serve, spread a thin layer of yogurt sauce on each plate.
  24. Place the steamed mantou on the plates and drizzle with additional yogurt.
  25. Drizzle the tomato sauce over the mantou.
  26. Garnish with dried mint leaves and chopped fresh cilantro.

Chef's Tip for Extra Flavor

Want to unlock deeper, more complex flavors? Try toasting your whole spices before grinding them, or blooming ground spices in a little warm oil to enhance their aroma. Deglazing your pan with a bit of stock, wine, or even water after browning ingredients can capture those tasty caramelized bits, adding richness to your dish.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

70 g

Sugar

24g

Fat

39g

Carbs

14g

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