Scallion Dumplings with Meat Sauce (Afghani Ashak)

Ashak also called 'Aushak', it is a common dish for public holidays and Islamic festive gatherings like Eid and Ramadan. This dish is made of pasta dumplings stuffed with scallion. It is usually served with a meaty tomato sauce. The meal is often enjoyed with yogurt and dry mint garnishes. However, a vegetarian variety is also available. The dish is quite spicy, primarily because of the addition of the tomato sauce. The flavours of yogurt and mint further add to its taste.

Dough:
all-purpose flour, unbleached (1 kg)
2 Tbsp. kosher or sea salt
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 cups water (500 mL)

Meat Sauce:
1 cup vegetable oil (250 mL)
2 large onions, chopped
ground beef (1 kg)
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 red capsicum, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes (400 g)
2 medium red chillies, chopped
1 Tbsp. ground turmeric
1 Tbsp. kosher or sea salt
1 cup boiling water (250 mL)
1 cup chana dal, soaked, rinsed and cooked until tender

Dumpling Filling:
gandana, leeks or chives, washed and finely chopped (1 kg)
1 Tbsp. black pepper, freshly ground
1 Tbsp. kosher or sea salt
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 bunch coriander, washed and chopped

Garlic Yoghurt:
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. kosher or sea salt
natural yoghurt (1 kg)
1 cup water (250 mL)

To Serve:
dried mint

To Make the Dough:
Place the flour, salt and oil in a large bowl and gradually add the water until a firm dough forms. (You may not need all of the water.) Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 8-10 minutes, or until dough is smooth and elastic. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

To Make the Sauce:
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the onion for 6-8 minutes, or until golden. Remove onion from pan, leaving as much oil in pan as possible. Add the mince and cook for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and liquid is evaporated. Return onion to pan and add all remaining ingredients, except the boiling water and chana dal. Mix well and cook for 2 minutes. Add the boiling water. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer, topping up with extra water if necessary, for 30 minutes. Add the chana dal and stir through. Reheat just before serving.

To Make the Filling:
Combine all ingredients and refrigerate until needed.

Divide the dough into eight pieces and roll each into a ball on a lightly floured work surface. Working with one ball at a time, and keeping the others covered with a cloth to prevent drying out, roll balls into 20 cm circles, then cut in half. Using a pasta machine on the widest setting, roll out dough, lightly dusting with flour when necessary to prevent sticking. Reduce setting on machine and pass through dough again, repeating until dough is about 2 mm thick. Cut into 3 cm squares. Place 1 tsp. of the gandana mixture in centre of a square. Moisten edges with a little water and press edges together to seal. Place on a tray lined with a tea towel. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.

To Make the Garlic Yoghurt:
Use a mortar and pestle to lb the garlic and salt to form a smooth paste. Whisk together the yoghurt, garlic paste and water in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Cook the ashak, in batches, for 3-4 minutes, or until they float to the surface and start to flip over. Drain well.

Spread the garlic yoghurt onto a serving platter. Place ashak on top, then spoon over the meat sauce. Scatter generously with dried mint.

Makes 10 servings.