Shish Barak

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Filling:

- 225g ground beef or lamb
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Salt and black pepper to taste

For the Yogurt Sauce:

- 2 cups plain yogurt
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- Salt to taste

For Cooking:

- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried mint, for garnish

Instructions:

Make the Dough:

1. In a bowl, combine the flour and salt.
2. Gradually add water while kneading until you get a smooth and elastic dough.
3. Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.

Prepare the Filling:

1. In a skillet, cook the ground beef or lamb over medium heat until browned.
2. Add finely chopped onion to the meat and cook until the onion is soft.
3. Stir in toasted pine nuts, ground cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Remove from heat and let the filling cool.

Roll and Cut the Dough:

1. On a floured surface, roll out the dough thinly.
2. Cut the dough into small circles using a round cookie cutter or the rim of a glass.

Fill and Shape the Dumplings:

1. Place a small amount of the meat filling in the center of each dough circle.
2. Fold the dough over the filling, creating a half-moon shape, and press the edges to seal.

Cook the Shish Barak:

1. In a pot, bring salted water to a boil.
2. Drop the filled dumplings into the boiling water and cook until they float to the surface.
3. Remove the cooked dumplings with a slotted spoon and set them aside.

Make the Yogurt Sauce:

1. In a bowl, whisk together plain yogurt, minced garlic, and salt.
2. If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix in cornstarch dissolved in a little water and cook it until it thickens.

Assemble and Serve:

1. Heat olive oil in a pan and briefly sauté the cooked Shish Barak dumplings until they get a golden color.
2. Pour the yogurt sauce over the dumplings.
3. Garnish with dried mint.

Serving Suggestions:

- Shish Barak is traditionally served with rice.
- You can also serve it with Lebanese flatbread (pita) or on its own as a comforting meal.

 شيش برك