Balkan Bosnian Klepe with Garlic Yogurt and Paprika Butter 🥟✨

Description

Balkan Bosnian Klepe are tender handmade dumplings filled with juicy minced beef, onion, garlic, and black pepper, then finished with creamy garlic yogurt, warm paprika butter, and fresh parsley. They are soft, savory, comforting, and deeply Balkan, with the kind of cozy tavern flavor that makes every spoonful feel rich and homemade. ✨

Hook ✨

Tender dumplings, juicy beef filling, garlic yogurt, and paprika butter make these Bosnian Klepe warm, creamy, and unforgettable. 🥟

Ingredients

• Dough 🌾
• 🌾 400 g all-purpose flour (3¼ cups / 14.1 oz)
• 🥚 1 large egg, 50 g (1 egg / 1.8 oz)
• 💧 180 ml lukewarm water (¾ cup / 6 fl oz)
• 🧂 5 g fine sea salt (¾ tsp / 0.18 oz)
• 🫒 10 ml olive oil or sunflower oil (2 tsp / 0.34 fl oz)
• Beef filling 🥩
• 🥩 400 g minced beef, 15–20% fat (14.1 oz)
• 🧅 120 g yellow onion, very finely grated or minced (¾ cup / 4.2 oz)
• 🧄 8 g garlic, finely grated (2 cloves / 0.28 oz)
• 🧂 6 g fine sea salt (1 tsp / 0.21 oz)
• ⚫ 2 g black pepper (1 tsp / 0.07 oz)
• 🌿 10 g fresh parsley, finely chopped (¼ cup / 0.35 oz)
• Garlic yogurt sauce 🥣
• 🥣 300 g thick plain yogurt (1¼ cups / 10.6 oz)
• 🧄 6 g garlic, finely grated (1–2 cloves / 0.21 oz)
• 🍋 10 ml lemon juice (2 tsp / 0.34 fl oz)
• 🧂 2 g fine sea salt (⅓ tsp / 0.07 oz)
• Paprika butter finish 🌶️
• 🧈 70 g unsalted butter (5 tbsp / 2.5 oz)
• 🌶️ 5 g sweet paprika (2 tsp / 0.18 oz)
• 🌶️ 1 g chili flakes, optional (½ tsp / 0.04 oz)
• 🌿 10 g fresh parsley, chopped (¼ cup / 0.35 oz)

Preparation

1. 1️⃣ Make the dough 🌾
2. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt. Add egg, lukewarm water, and oil. Knead for 6–8 min until smooth, elastic, and not sticky. Cover and rest for 30 min.
3. 2️⃣ Mix the beef filling 🥩
4. In a bowl, combine minced beef, onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, and parsley. Mix for 1 min until slightly sticky and evenly seasoned. Keep chilled while rolling the dough.
5. 3️⃣ Roll and cut 🥟
6. Divide the dough into 2 pieces. Roll one piece at a time to about 2 mm (⅛ in) thickness. Cut into 6 cm (2½ in) squares. Keep the second dough piece covered while working.
7. 4️⃣ Fill and seal ✨
8. Place 1 tsp beef filling in the center of each square. Fold into a triangle or small pouch, pressing the edges firmly to seal. Pinch the corners if desired for a classic homemade look.
9. 5️⃣ Boil the klepe 🔥
10. Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Add the klepe in batches and cook for 6–7 min, until the dough is tender and the filling is cooked through. Lift out with a slotted spoon.
11. 6️⃣ Make the garlic yogurt 🥣
12. Stir yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and salt until smooth. Spoon the garlic yogurt onto a warm serving plate or into shallow bowls.
13. 7️⃣ Bloom the paprika butter 🌶️
14. Melt butter in a small pan over medium-low heat. Add sweet paprika and chili flakes if using, stir for 8–10 sec, then remove from heat before the paprika darkens.
15. 8️⃣ Finish and serve 🍲
16. Place the hot klepe over the garlic yogurt. Drizzle generously with paprika butter and finish with parsley. Serve immediately while creamy, warm, and glossy.

Total Time

⏱ Prep: 45 min
🔥 Cook/Bake: 15 min
🛋 Rest: 30 min
⏰ Total: 1 h 30 min

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