What are pelmeni?
Pelmeni are small dumplings: a thin, firm dough wrapped around a raw meat filling and pinched into a little round. Because they go into the pot raw, the filling cooks inside the dough and stays juicy.
The dish is usually traced to Siberia and the Urals, and it spread across Russia, Ukraine and the whole region. Compared with vareniki, or Ukrainian pierogi, pelmeni are smaller, meatier and thinner-skinned. See pierogi vs vareniki vs pelmeni for a side-by-side.
Pelmeni on the menu now
Each pack holds 25 pelmeni. This is the live menu:
- Chicken: Light and juicy
- Pork: Rich and savory
- Beef: Deep, peppery flavor
How to cook pelmeni
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. A bay leaf and a few peppercorns are traditional.
- Add the pelmeni straight from the freezer and stir once so they don't stick.
- Cook until they float, then a couple of minutes more. From frozen they're ready in under ten minutes.
- Lift them out with a slotted spoon and serve right away.
Ways to serve a hearty bowl
- With butter and a spoonful of sour cream, the classic.
- In broth: ladle them into their cooking water or a chicken stock with fresh dill for a simple, warming soup.
- Pan-fried: boil them first, then fry in butter until golden.
- With a splash of vinegar and cracked black pepper, the way many Siberian families eat them.
Handmade in Columbus, Indiana
Every batch is made by Oksana Bondar, chef and founder of Olesya's Kitchen, Indiana's only Ukrainian restaurant, which has served Columbus since 2018.
Pelmeni are made in small batches and frozen. They're hearty comfort food for a Midwest winter, and a bag in the freezer means a real dinner on the table in ten minutes.
How to order pelmeni delivery
Varenigo delivers in Columbus, Indiana today, and we're expanding to more of the state. Enter your ZIP when you order and we'll tell you whether we reach you. If we don't yet, we'll let you know the moment we do.
Try a single box, or subscribe to a plan that delivers every two weeks and costs less per pack. Plans include both pelmeni and vareniki.
A one-time box is 3 packs of any flavors you like for $39.99, plus your area's delivery fee. No subscription, nothing to cancel.
Delivery days and fees are on the dumpling delivery page.
Questions
Are pelmeni Russian or Ukrainian?
Both, in practice. Pelmeni are usually traced to Siberia and the Urals, and they're eaten across Russia, Ukraine and the rest of Eastern Europe. Ours are handmade in Columbus, Indiana by a Ukrainian chef.
How long do pelmeni take to cook?
Under ten minutes from frozen. Boil them in salted water until they float, then a couple of minutes more.
How many pelmeni are in a pack?
Each pack holds 25 pelmeni.
What's in your pelmeni?
Seasoned meat wrapped in a thin handmade dough. You pick your flavors from the current menu when you order.