Turkish yogurt dumplings "Mantı"

Mantı is a staple dish in Turkish cuisine. You eat it with a delicious garlic yogurt and tomato sauce. Historically, the name mantı in Turkish comes from the Mongolic word “mantuu,” which means "steamed bun" or "dumpling."You may have heard the Korean word “mandu” before or the Chinese one “mántóu”.It is said that the dish has been introduced to Anatolia by the Mongols and Central Asian Turkic tribes during the Seljuk and Ottoman era. Over time, the Turkish version evolved into small dumplings filled with spiced meat, typically served with garlic yogurt and buttery tomato & dried mint sauce.

So while the name has Mongolic and Chinese origins, mantı in Türkiye has developed its own unique dish that’s no longer the same as its Central Asian & East Asian relatives.

I’ve always been a fan of discovering more about the roots of food and the rich history of the food we share. And even though we label our foods all over the world and stick countries and cultures to it, we’re all connected through food and I absolutely love that.

Ingredients:

For the Mantı:

• 1 package store-bought mantı (600g)

• 6 cups (1.5 liters) hot water

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

For the Garlic Yogurt Sauce:

• 3 cups yogurt

• 2 cloves garlic (minced)

• 1 teaspoon salt

For the Spiced Butter Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 1 teaspoon dried mint

• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (pul biber)

• ½ cup (100 ml) reserved mantı cooking water

Instructions:

1. Cook the mantı: Bring the hot water to a boil in a pot, add the vegetable oil, and cook the mantı until soft. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking water before draining the rest.

2. Prepare the garlic yogurt sauce: In a bowl, mix the yogurt, minced garlic, and salt. Set aside.

3. Make the spiced butter sauce: In a small pan, melt the butter, then add the tomato paste. Sauté for a minute before stirring in the dried mint, red pepper flakes, and the reserved mantı cooking water. Let it simmer for another minute.

4. Assemble the dish: Place the cooked mantı on a plate, generously spoon the garlic yogurt over it, and drizzle with the spiced butter sauce.

5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

   
   

A plate of Yoğurtlu Mantı is pure comfort—every bite is creamy, tangy, and packed with warm spices. Afiyet olsun! 🥟✨