Turkish Cheesy Manti Delight (Printable)

Tender bite-sized dumplings stuffed with creamy cheese, served with garlic yogurt and spiced butter drizzle.

# What you need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1/2 cup water, plus more if needed

→ Cheese Filling

05 - 1 cup crumbled Turkish white cheese or feta
06 - 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
07 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Yogurt Sauce

09 - 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
10 - 1 garlic clove, minced
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Spiced Butter

12 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
13 - 1 teaspoon paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or chili flakes

# Directions:

01 - Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Create a well, add egg and water, then mix and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover and rest for 20 minutes.
02 - Mix crumbled cheeses, chopped parsley, and ground black pepper in a bowl until evenly combined.
03 - Combine Greek yogurt, minced garlic, and salt in a bowl. Stir until smooth and set aside.
04 - Roll dough on a lightly floured surface until very thin (about 2 mm). Cut into 1.5-inch squares.
05 - Place approximately 1/2 teaspoon of cheese filling in the center of each square. Pinch corners together to seal and form dumplings.
06 - Boil salted water in a large pot. Add dumplings in batches and cook 5 to 7 minutes until they float and are tender. Drain thoroughly.
07 - Melt unsalted butter in a small pan. Stir in paprika and Aleppo pepper, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
08 - Arrange dumplings on plates, spoon yogurt sauce over them and drizzle with spiced butter. Garnish with extra parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Each tender dumpling practically melts under the cool, garlicky yogurt sauce—it's the contrast that makes you keep reaching for more.
  • You can make and freeze the manti ahead, turning a medium-effort dish into an impressive dinner on your worst day.
  • The spiced butter finish tastes like you've been cooking Turkish food your whole life, even if you haven't.
02 -
  • The dough resting time is non-negotiable—it makes the difference between manti that's tender and manti that's chewy and stubborn.
  • Don't overfill the dumplings; a timid hand with filling is a winning hand here.
  • Drain the cooked manti really well, or the yogurt sauce will turn watery and sad on the plate.
03 -
  • Roll the dough as thin as you can—almost translucent—because that's what makes manti tender instead of doughy.
  • One minced garlic clove in the yogurt is the exact right amount; trust this and don't add more just because you love garlic.
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