Khinkali, · 40 khinkali

Mix 1000 g all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting and 2 ½ tsp kosher salt (a heaping teaspoon) in a large bowl and make a well. Pour in 500 g ice-cold water, plus more as needed and 2 tbsp neutral oil and stir with a spoon, drawing in the flour, until you have a shaggy mass.

Knead on a well floured surface for 10 min to 15 min, adding flour if it gets sticky.

Cover with a damp towel and rest 30 min to 45 min.

Pulse 2 onions, 2 cups cilantro, leaves and stems and 4 tbsp parsley, leaves and stems in a food processor until finely chopped.

Put 455 g ground beef and 455 g ground pork in a large bowl with the onion and herbs, 2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 ½ tsp ground cumin and 4 tsp kosher salt. Knead with your hand until evenly mixed.

Work in 1 ⅓ cups cold water (a scant measure) a little at a time, kneading well after each addition until it is absorbed. Leave the filling to stand 10 min to 15 min.

Cut the dough in two, keeping one half covered. Roll the other into a large round about 6 mm (¼ in) thick; leave it on the thick side, since each piece is rolled again.

Stamp out rounds with a 8 cm (3 ⅛ in) to 9 cm (3 ½ in) glass, and add the scraps to the covered dough. Roll each round out to 11 cm (4 ⅓ in) to 14 cm (5 ½ in) across.

Put a generous spoonful of filling in the centre of a round. Bring one edge up over the filling and, working clockwise, keep folding the dough into overlapping pleats until the filling is completely enclosed.

Pinch the neck hard and twist the pleats while turning the dumpling the other way, tugging the knot up slightly to leave a little space above the filling. Keep the finished khinkali under a damp cloth. Repeat with the rest to make about 40.

Bring 5 l water for boiling to a boil with salt for the water. Lower in about ten khinkali, topknots down, and shake the pot so they do not stick; then leave them alone. Once the water returns to the boil, cook 10 min to 12 min.

Lift out with a slotted spoon, grind plenty of freshly ground black pepper, to serve over them and serve at once, with butter or sour cream, to serve if you like, while the next batch cooks.