Azerbaijani Düşbərə — Tiny Lamb Dumplings in Broth

2–5 minutes

Düşbərə is an Azerbaijani dumpling soup famous for exceptionally small lamb-filled dumplings. The pleasure is as much in shaping them as eating them: the broth stays clear while the tiny parcels remain distinct and tender.

Chef-tested
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Two tiny folded dushbara dumplings on a spoon above clear golden broth in an ivory bowl.

Düşbərə is an Azerbaijani dumpling soup famous for exceptionally small lamb-filled dumplings.

Prep
65 minutes
Cook
12–15 minutes
Serves
4
Cuisine
Azerbaijan

The recipe

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Ingredients

Equipment

Method

  1. Prepare the dough. Mix flour, egg, approximately 100 ml water and 3 g salt. Knead for 7–8 minutes until firm but pliable, adding remaining water only as needed. Rest covered for 25 minutes.

  2. Mix the filling. Combine lamb, onion, remaining salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to shape.

  3. Roll and cut. Divide dough into sections and roll each very thin, approximately 1 mm. Cut into 3 cm squares, keeping unfilled dough covered.

  4. Fill the tiny parcels. Place approximately 2 g lamb filling in the center of each square. Fold diagonally into a triangle, seal the edges carefully and bring the corners together. Keep shaped dumplings on a lightly floured tray.

  5. Poach in broth. Bring stock to a gentle boil, reduce to a lively simmer and cook dumplings in batches for about 6–8 minutes, until dough is cooked and lamb filling reaches at least 75°C. Avoid overcrowding.

  6. Finish and serve. Stir dried mint into the broth; ladle dumplings and stock into warm bowls. Serve garlic mixed with wine vinegar separately so each diner can adjust acidity.

Chef’s notes

  • A dry, lightly floured board prevents sticking while allowing the dough edges to seal.
  • Keep dumplings especially small; oversized parcels change the character of the soup.
  • A gentle simmer is more reliable than a rolling boil, which can burst delicate dumplings.

Substitutions

  • Beef may replace some lamb, though lamb is traditional.
  • Use a mild homemade beef stock if lamb broth is unavailable.
  • Dried mint is more typical than a large quantity of fresh mint in the finishing broth.

Storage and Food Safety

Refrigerate cooled cooked dumplings and broth separately within 2 hours; use within 2 days. Reheat both to at least 75°C. Uncooked dumplings can be tray-frozen promptly and cooked from frozen until the filling reaches 75°C.

Serving Suggestions

Clear broth, dried mint and a little garlic vinegar.

Allergens

Wheat (gluten) and egg. Stock may contain celery or other allergens; check ingredients.

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