Chuchvara

Chuchvara is a traditional dumpling originating from Uzbekistan. There are many types of these dumplings, but the stuffing usually consists of finely chopped meat and pork is never used. Some people compare these dumplings with Russian ravioli and dumplings, but there are a few basic differences – chuchvara is smaller, it's boiled in broth with vegetables and fried meat, and the dough is never rolled out separately for each dumpling – a large piece of dough is rolled instead, and it's then cut into smaller squares that are subsequently stuffed with different ingredients. For the classic version, the dough is made from flour, eggs, salt, and water, the stuffing is made with lamb or beef, onions, and seasonings, and the broth contains onions, carrots, tomatoes, and a piece of meat on the bone. There are also kovurma chuchvara (fried chuchvara) and osh kuktli chuchvara (made with finely chopped greens, hard-boiled eggs, onions, and tail fat).