Dumplings are a favorite delicacy not only of many bachelors, but also of entire families. A dish is especially tasty if you cook it yourself. It is the filling that plays an important role in the taste representation, so it is worth paying special attention to its preparation. The ideal option is minced beef dumplings. There are many varieties of recipes for its preparation. But you should know the special secrets that will help make even the classic recipe special.
What meat should be chosen for dumplings, and how to prepare it
To prepare a delicious forcemeat for beef dumplings, you must first choose a good meat:
- You need to choose pieces of pink that smell like milk.
- The seller needs to inquire about the age of the cow or calf, request documents on the quality of the product.
- At home, you should wash the meat under running water. Then pour cold water and leave for 15-20 minutes. Wash pieces again.
- Cut the product into small pieces, while removing the film and grease.
Next is the grinding and addition of the main ingredient for ravioli. Sometimes beef is combined with pork and chicken. The original taste is obtained by combining lamb with beef.
What spices complement the taste of minced beef for dumplings
To make the filling more tasty, fragrant and piquant, it is worth using additional components, namely seasoning. Ideal minced spices for beef dumplings:
- The most basic and irreplaceable spice is salt.
- In second place is black ground pepper.
- You can add a little turmeric and mustard, which will add some bitterness and spice.
- Rosemary can be used in small amounts to make beef taste brighter.
Special notes can be obtained using universal seasonings for meat, pilaf, dried Italian herbs. It is advisable to choose those options where there is no salt in the composition. In the process of cooking, bay leaf and allspice are used. These flavors and tastes also penetrate the minced meat.
Auxiliary ingredients to complement the taste of minced meat
In addition to spices, it is worth using additional ingredients that will make the filling more delicate and varied in taste. It is important to remember that additional products should be approximately 1/5 of the total filling.
Delicious mincemeat for beef dumplings will turn out if you add such products:
- Leek or Crimean.
- Garlic in a minimal amount is relevant for lovers of pungency.
- A variety of greens, which will make the taste of the filling more fresh and light.
- Grated vegetables (sometimes): potatoes, zucchini, radish, pumpkin.
- Fresh or pickled mushrooms.
It is important to select components for the stuffing so that the filling as a result is tender, and with the first test of dumplings it was possible to determine its composition.
What ingredients are needed to prepare a classic filling for dumplings
Make minced meat for beef dumplings is possible only with the following products:
- 1.5 kg of selected beef;
- 2 large onions;
- 1/3 of a glass of milk;
- 2 cloves of garlic;
- spices to taste.
This amount of food is enough to cook 2–2.3 kg of dumplings. This is almost 8–9 restaurant meals.
The principle of cooking minced meat for homemade dumplings
Preparation of the filling takes a little time. Even an inexperienced cook can cope with the task. The recipe for minced meat for beef dumplings involves minimal time costs:
- Put washed, peeled and sliced beef on a paper towel. This will help remove excess moisture.
- Pieces through a meat grinder. Any unit will do.
- Peel and wash the onion and garlic. Cut the vegetables into small pieces and, laying in a blender, grind them until smooth.
- Using a wooden spoon, mix the minced beef and vegetables. Be sure to salt the composition and add spices to taste preferences.
- Add milk to the billet and mix the composition. This technique is used to make the meat texture softer and more tender.
For spices to penetrate the meat fibers, it is worth letting the filling stand for 10-15 minutes before starting to sculpt the products. You can make one test dumpling, try it and evaluate the taste of spices. Then you can adjust the composition.
Secrets to storing and making homemade ground beef
The taste of each dish that has a filler depends on the quality of the filling. The same principle applies to dumplings. Therefore, it is important to know the secret regarding the preparation of minced beef for homemade dumplings:
- Do not store ready-made filling in a closed container or bag. The workpiece may be in the refrigerator, if the container is open, no more than 2 hours.
- It is advisable to salt the workpiece immediately before dumpling is made. So the meat will not begin to lose juice.
- If the forcemeat is not used immediately, it is strictly forbidden to add additional ingredients and spices. The taste and aroma will be too sugary.
To preserve the taste of the filling, it is worth adhering to the technological standards of storage and preparation. The main thing is to use fresh products and process them well.
How to make minced beef more juicy
It happens that the beef filling in dumplings seems too dry. This factor significantly affects the taste and quality of the whole dish. To avoid such problems, it is worth knowing a few nuances. To make minced meat dumplings juicy will help these secrets:
- When choosing beef, you should choose at least one slice with a little fat.
- About 50 g of crushed ice or very cold water can be added to the prepared meat.
- If you buy beef breast, then problems with dryness should not arise, but in addition you can add 25 g of vegetable juice to the preparation of minced meat.
- Slightly salted meat slices can be used before grinding.
Some housewives resort to more complex combinations of preparing a juicy ingredient for dumplings, but the result will be the same. Simple technologies for saturating beef with juice are quite effective.
Original filling
Minced beef dumplings can be special. It is enough to apply one of several original recipes:
- Grind 1 kg of beef. But 1 onion and 200 g of pickled champignons cut into small pieces. Add spices and mix all the ingredients.
- Grind a bunch of greens, which includes celery, parsley and dill. Add nettle leaves. Grind the meat. Mix all the ingredients, add spices. The more beef, the more greens are worth using.
- Grate 2 potatoes per 1 kg of beef, which is ground with a meat grinder. 1 onion will help diversify the taste of the filling. Mix all components thoroughly.
- A very unusual recipe is where walnuts are used. For 900-1000 g, you can take 1/5 of a glass of peeled nuts. Grind everything with a meat grinder. Salt and pepper the workpiece. Additionally, you can use the onion. First you need to slightly fry the onions and nuts, and then mix with the meat portion of the minced meat. Sometimes even prunes are added.
The original taste and aroma of each option can surprise even sophisticated housewives. The minced meat for beef dumplings, cooked with your own hands, is tender and juicy.