Lithuanian zeppelins

Description of preparation: In short, zeppelins are something like a huge potato dumplings with meat filling, which are served with a traditional sauce of cracklings. This is the traditional, the most famous Lithuanian dish, which, due to its ability to cook, appreciates the culinary skills of each culinary specialist. The devil already knows how old the dish is, but the Lithuanians are still not tired of it - and this is a sign of class, agree :) The dish is somewhat rough, rustic, looks primitive, but believe me, a portion of real Lithuanian zeppelins will make you much happier than some smeared ones on the plate incomprehensible things in some French restaurant.

Cooking zeppelin - not an easy thing, there are so many nuances. I’m happy to share with you all the secrets - I’ve cooked zeppels for probably a few hundred times, so I can hold master classes on cooking zeppelins.

Ingredients:

Potatoes - 1.7 Kilogram

Salt, pepper - - To taste

Pork mince - 400 Grams Onion - 3 Pieces

Garlic - 2 Teas

Pork side piece - 200 Grams

Sour cream - 200 Grams

1.Boil 400 grams of potatoes, the remaining 1300 - finely grate using a food processor (you can use your hands on the smallest grater, but for a long time). Chop the onion and garlic in a blender and add to the minced pork along with salt and pepper.

2. Finely grated potatoes are laid out in a bowl, pre-molded with 3-4 layers of gauze.

3. Thoroughly squeeze the grated potatoes from the liquid. But without fanaticism - no need to try to squeeze out all the juice at all.

4. Now it is very important - in the bowl in which we squeeze the potatoes, there should be potato starch at the bottom. Drain the liquid, and leave the starch and add to the grated potatoes. If it didn’t work out - add the purchased one, zeppelins will not stick together without starch.

5. Mix grated potatoes with chopped boiled potatoes in mashed potatoes. Salt, pepper and mix.

6. So, we have potato dough and we have minced meat. Now we take a part of the dough (8 zeppelin should turn out from the specified number of ingredients - so that all dough is divided into 8 parts), spread the stuffing in the middle and very tightly pinch the edges, forming our zeppelin. Look at the photo for clarity.

7. When all zeppelins are stuck together - we put them in boiling (I emphasize, in boiling !!!) water. In the pan should be spacious, otherwise the zeppelins will fall apart.

8. Zeppelins boil for about 25 minutes over medium heat. In the meantime, they cook, make a special sauce. Cut into small slices, salt and pepper for 2-3 minutes in a frying pan.

9. Add chopped onion to the pan in medium pieces. Fry another 2 minutes.

10. Fill the whole thing with sour cream and simmer for about 5 minutes.

11. Cooked zeppelins are carefully removed from the water and served with our sauce. Bon appetit, or Skanaus, as the Lithuanians say!