Everyone loves dumplings. And who invented the pelmeni? Chronicles of a continuing dispute

Perhaps, there are not so many dishes in the world that could compete with pelmeni in the number of countries and peoples claiming authorship. In the national cuisines of many nations of the world there are dishes similar to Russian pel'menis, which are called differently and have their own characteristics. But who invented the dumplings, where they were cooked for the first time - is unknown.

In all corners of the earth

Many nations attribute the invention of pelmeni to themselves, claiming that it is their ancestors who are the creators of this dish. Historians of cooking do not come to a common opinion about the roots of this dish. Archaeological finds confirming the antiquity of this dish are from time to time found in all corners of the earth: the Far East, Europe, Latin America.

Dumplings of different countries

The dictionaries say that dumplings are a dish made from ground beef wrapped in dough, boiled in water. The very name of "pelmeni" is not very common, except Russian it is found only in several languages. This makes it even more difficult for us to find the answer to the question of who dumplings were invented. After all, in different languages the same dish is simply called differently, and in fact is the same.

For example, Georgians from time immemorial cook khinkali, differing from the usual dumplings only a little larger size, a knot in the middle and a set of characteristic spices. The inhabitants of Azerbaijan make dyushbaru - tiny balls of dough with meat, which are boiled and served with broth. Dagestanis are preparing for the holidays a curry, similar to boiled meat patties. In Armenia guests are treated with borak - folded squares of dough with meat stuffing. If you happen to visit Tajikistan, be sure to try Hushan - square fried dumplings with mutton.

They love and have always loved pelmeni in Europe. On the question of who invented the pelmeni, many confidently answer: "We!".

Lithuanians are preparing a screen and a sorcerer, Moldovans love plachintu and wersere (cabbage dumplings). The Swedish croupparkor - larger than the usual dumplings - is popular all over the world.

In the Far East, the preparation of ravioli is cultivated. There are many beliefs and legends associated with this food. Japanese gedza is served in restaurants around the world.

Fairy tales and legends

In Western Europe there is a belief about a monk, who in one of the hungry years was lucky enough to get hold of a large piece of meat. Wanting to feed as many people as possible, a good monk chopped meat, added spices and divided the stuffing into many pieces. Each of them he wrapped in a cake of dough, and then cooked. Delicious dumplings saved many people from starvation.

In Finland, there is a legend that one of the gods of Asgard once thought of making a dish of dough and chopped meat. However, this idea soon ceased to appeal to him, and he threw the piece onto the ground, feeding several villages.

"Bread ear"

Many people consider this dish to be originally Russian. So much has caught on here and fell in love with dumplings. Whose dish became a prototype is also for certain unknown, but historians agree that the word "pelmen" is borrowed from the Finno-Ugric language. Initially, it was formed from the words "nyanya" - "bread" and "pel" - "ear." The name "pel'nyan" is found in Russian sources from the early Middle Ages, and refers to the places where the Russian tribes lived near the Finno-Ugric. And the origin of the name can give a clue in the search for an answer to the question of who dumplings came up first and taught them how to prepare other peoples.

Surprisingly, the ancient recipe for pelmeni is similar to the modern one, exactly the opposite. In the severe conditions of the North, flour, onions and spices cost a lot of money, but game was plenty. Therefore, the flat cake rolled very thinly, the extra edges were neatly trimmed, but the meat stuffing of the northerners was added a little more.

Russian tradition

The first tasted of pelmeni was Siberia. From there the food spread further, until it reached the remotest corners of the country. To be honest, it did not make a big furore, because analogies of pelmeni were known at that time on the western outskirts of Russia, and even more so in the East, which is familiar with the culinary traditions of the peoples of Asia.

But the fact that delicious dumplings immediately fell in love with the common people and the nobility, no doubt. It turned out that they are perfectly kept in the cold, and unlike the usual ice cream meat, which was harvested for the winter in the bins, the smell of pelmeni is not so attractive to the thievish predators.

Nowadays, homemade minced meat for dumplings is prepared not from game, as in the old days, but from pork, beef, mutton, poultry. To make it juicier, add onions, milk, Bulgarian pepper.

Today this dish is considered not just delicious, it is a kind of symbol that brings together both during molding, and, of course, during a joint meal. Well, who invented the dumplings is not so important. Most likely, the truth is somewhere in the middle. The idea of preparing a delicious dish from a minced meat wrapped in slices of dough came to many ancient gourmets at one time.