Meat-Filled Momos

A recipe for Meat-Filled Momos! Homemade wrappers are filled with a lightly spiced beef mixture and steamed until tender.

Course Main

Cuisine Tibetan

Keyword beef, dumpling, meat, momo, Tibet, Tibetan, Yunnan

Prep Time 40

Cook Time 10

Resting Time: 15

Total Time 1 5

Servings 24 Momos

1 pound (450 grams) ground or finely chopped beef about 1 3/4 cups, do not use lean
3 scallions, white and light green parts only cut in half lengthwise and finely sliced crosswise
1 1/2 teaspoons (7 milliliters) light soy sauce
1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorn powder
Cabbage leaves for lining the steamer

Put the flour into a large mixing bowl, then drizzle in the water slowly, stirring with chopsticks.
Once all the water has been added, knead the mixture together with your hands until it comes together. If the dough won't come together, add a tiny bit more water, and if it is very sticky, add a tiny bit more flour so that the dough is soft and pliable.
Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and knead it vigorously for 10 minutes, until it is smooth and silky.
Form the dough into a ball, set it back in the bowl, and cover with plastic wrap, without letting the plastic touch the dough.
Let it sit for at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours before using. Knead it a couple of times just before using.

Prepare the meat by breaking it up with a fork or chopping it lightly, then mix in the scallions, soy sauce, oil, salt, and Sichuan peppercorn powder until evenly distributed. Set the filling aside.

Divide the prepared dough into quarters and lightly flour a work surface.
Working with one quarter of the dough at a time, knead the dough a couple of times and then use your hands to roll it into a rope about 1 1/2 inches (4 centimeters) thick.
Cut the rope into six, small, even pieces.
Take one small piece of dough, roll it into a ball in your palms, and then use the heel of your hand or the bottom of a measuring cup to smash it into a flat, even circle.
Use a dumpling rolling pin or wooden dowel to further flatten the circle into a 3 1/2 inch (9 centimeter) wide wrapper with a thicker center. The best way to do this is to use the rolling pin on just the bottom third of the circle, then turn the dough counterclockwise a bit and repeat; this way the edges of the wrapper will receive even pressure, while the center stays untouched. (The finished wrapper should have the shape of a very flat flying saucer or fried egg.)
Repeat with the remaining dough, setting the wrappers aside on a floured surface and making sure they don't touch each other.

Place a wrapper in the palm of one hand and top with a small mound of filling (approximately 1 tablespoon).
With your other hand, bring the right edge of the wrapper up toward the center of the filling. With your thumb on the edge of the wrapper, use your index finger to grab the edge of the wrapper about 1/2 inch (1.25 centimeters) from your thumb, then pinch the two parts of the edge together, to create a small fold. Repeat the pinching motion, bringing more and more of the dumpling's edge into the middle, and rotating the dumpling in your hand, creating pleats all around the dumpling. (The dough is flexible, so if you need to, pull and stretch the dough over the filling.)
When all the edges of the wrapper have been secured together, pinch the top of the dumpling, where they meet, to ensure that they are stuck together well.
Fill a large pot that will fit under the steamer with water and bring it to a rolling boil.
Place the momos on the steamer lined with cabbage leaves and steam them over the pot for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough looks slightly translucent. (If using the steamer with stacked trays, the momos on the bottom may be done before those on the upper levels.)
Serve hot from the steamer on their own or accompanied by a chili sauce.