Khinkali: how to cook and eat them
How to cook frozen khinkali without damaging the dough, and eat them without losing the broth.
A khinkali is a dough pouch filled with meat and hot broth. The secret is to cook it gently and eat it with your hands.
Cooking
- Use a large pot, plenty of salted water and a rolling boil.
- Add the frozen khinkali one at a time and stir VERY gently once.
- Once they float, continue cooking according to the packaging or technical sheet for that specific product. Before serving, check that the filling is fully cooked.
- Lift them out with a slotted spoon; do not tip them into a colander, as they may break.
How to eat them
- Hold them by the dough knot with your hand.
- Take a small bite on one side and sip the broth inside.
- Then eat the rest. You can leave the firm dough knot on the plate: it is a handle, rather than a mouthful.
Never pierce them with a fork before taking a bite: the broth runs onto the plate and you lose the best part.