How to make Tatar Elesh - a juicy pie with chicken and potatoes (RECIPE)

Genuine native Tatar cuisine can be sampled and enjoyed in the Republic of Tatarstan (situated about 500 kilometers east of Moscow), and it’s particularly famous for an assortment of pies with meat. There are several types of pies with similar fillings, but their shape will tell you what’s exactly inside. 

Elesh is a traditional Tatar pie. The name means “part” or “serving”. Unlike echpochmak, another famous type of Tatar pie with mutton or beef, the filling for elesh is diced chicken, potatoes with onions and spices. The dough is yeastless, made with sour cream and butter. Externally, these pies cannot be confused; elesh is round and closed, resembling a smaller form of another Tatar pie zur belish.

What’s especially wonderful about elesh is the large amount of juicy filling and the thin crispy dough that resembles a slightly sandy puff pastry. It forms a crispy crust and it becomes the cooking vessel where the filling is baked. It will be even juicier if instead of chicken breast, you use a cut of meat that comes from chicken thighs. 

Elesh pies turn out hearty and very tasty. They’re usually prepared for special occasions or for the visit of important guests. Elesh is especially tasty with tea or hot meat broth, and it can be served as a solo dish or as an accompaniment to soup.

Ingredients for 4 servings:

Dough:

• Flour - 250 g
• Egg - 1 pc
• Unflavored vegetable oil - 2 tbsp
• Melted butter - 3 tbsp
• Sour cream (20%) - 2 tbsp
• Water - 2 tbsp
• Salt - 1/2 tsp
• Sugar - 1/2 tsp

Filling:

• Chicken (meat from thighs) - 250 g
• Potatoes - 150 g
• Large onion - 1 pc (80-100g)
• Butter - 40 g
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Melted butter for greasing - 30-50g

Preparation:

1. Combine all ingredients for the dough in a food processor with a blade attachment.

2. Once combined, you’ll get a homogeneous elastic mass.

3. Gather the dough into a ball, wrap it in a bag and put it in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

4. Peel and dice the potatoes. The classic version of elesh is prepared with large pieces of 1.5-2 cm. But I cut them into 7mm cubes or so. This way the filling is more evenly distributed inside the pie.

5. Chop the onion finely.

6. Cut the meat into cubes, and add to the potatoes and onions.

7. Salt, pepper and mix thoroughly.

8. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and divide it into 4 parts.

9. Divide each portion into 2 parts, in proportions of 1/3 and 2/3.

10. Roll out the larger part into a round pancake.

11. Place the filling and a piece of butter on it.

12. Roll out the smaller part of the dough and cover the filling with it. 

13. Pinch the edges carefully.

14. Shape the pinch into a wavy shape.

15. Place the pies on a tray with baking paper and put them into a preheated oven at 180℃ for 45 minutes.

16. The pies should become brown.

17. Brush each pie with melted butter.

18. The patties are ready - serve them hot. 

19. Enjoy!

READ MORE: Manty: Huge and tasty dumplings with meat and potatoes (RECIPE)

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