Mini-chebureki
4 servings
50 minutes
In Uzbekistan, the most valuable thing in a chebureki is called shurpa: it is the very broth that oozes and splashes from the bitten dough


1
Wash the lamb shoulder and clean it from excess tendons and fat - the upper, yellowish, unappetizing-looking fat. Cut the meat into cubes about 2 cm on each side, then chop it into minced meat with a large knife. It will be difficult at first, but in about twenty minutes, you'll have minced meat that is incomparable in juiciness to that passed through a meat grinder.
- Shoulder of lamb: 500 g

2
Cut the chili peppers in half, remove the seeds, and chop finely. Also chop the fresh cilantro finely. Grind the coriander in a mortar with cumin seeds. Add all this to the minced meat, sprinkle in a pinch of salt and pepper. Knead the mixture until homogeneous, then to make it elastic, slam it on the table several times with force.
- Chili pepper: 3 pieces
- Coriander: 30 g
- Coriander seeds: pinch
- Cumin (zira): pinch
- Salt: pinch
- Ground black pepper: pinch

3
Take the pancakes for Japanese gyoza and place about 20 grams of filling on each. Then moisten the edges of the dough with a finger, fold it in half, shape it like a cheburek, place it on the table, and press the edges with a fork to seal them well. If you aim for the same grooves, it will look very beautiful.
- Dough for gyoza dumplings: 30 g

4
Pour frying oil into a saucepan and heat it until it sizzles when a cheburek is dipped in. Fry several chebureks in the oil, turning them with a slotted spoon, until golden-brown. Then transfer them to paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Deep frying oil: 400 ml

5
Chebureks should, of course, be served hot. They can be accompanied by sauces: for example, mix matsoni with crushed coriander, a pinch of cumin, finely chopped cilantro, salt, and pepper to taste. Or, put finely chopped chili in rice vinegar, boil for five minutes, add sugar, dissolve it, and serve chilled.
- Coriander: 30 g
- Coriander seeds: pinch
- Cumin (zira): pinch
- Salt: pinch
- Ground black pepper: pinch









