Pelmeni - homemade dumplings

Pelmeni are Russian dumplings, served most often with sour cream and and caramelized onions.
Also served in broth or other ways.

Dough: Mix 2 cups flour, 1 egg, and 3-5 tablespoons of water. Work the dough until smooth and bendy like playdough. Roll it out thin on a clean, slightly floured surface. Use a cup or glass about 3 inches wide to make perfect round cut-outs. (or use a shape cutter if you have one). Alternative for dough: get pre-packaged wonton or dumpling wrappers, sold almost anywhere, and in china-towns for sure.

Filling: any ground meet (traditional Russian and Ukrainian recipes use pork). Mix your protein with some grated onion, salt, pepper, grated garlic, herbs (parsley). Roll tiny meat balls (less than an inch in diameter). Put on a medium pot of water to boil. Fill the water about 3 inches high. Drop the meat balls in so they cook a little and keep their form. Take them out, drain them on a paper towel. Place one ball in the center of the cutout dough, pinch the sides closed. Cook in boiling, salted water until they float up.

Onions: Cut an onion in half, then slice (1/4 inch). If the onion is pretty small, don't cut in half first, just slice onion rings. Pre-heat a medium size pan. Add 1/2 tablespoon of oil. Let the oil heat up a little. Drop the onions. Let them pick up color before you start to toss them. Add salt, and some herbs. Add 1/2 tablespoon of butter (or more if you love butter....i do). Cook on medium heat, toss frequently until golden and start to smell sweet.