Mamtu (mantu)  or little dumplings, are believed to have originated from the travelers along the silk road.   They would carry them dried then steaming them on their stopovers, even today they are widely eaten along the old silk road route with many variations.

In Hunza the basic chapatti recipe was used but now with the ready availability of won-ton papers they are the  preferred option for today’s Hunzakutz.

Mamtu are filled with spicy meat and steamed over a large circular tray with holes in the bottom, traditionally served with Dumanum Mamo (yoghurt) and flat leaf parsley.  Today we enjoy, this now street food with black pepper, vinegar, chili sauce or tomato sauce.

Filling   10 minutes

pastry…chapattis approx 30 minutes……..won-tons open the packet

cooking  10 to 15 minutes

total     50 minutes to an hour

heavy based frying pan

2 bowls,  teaspoon, large spoon

steamer

rolling pin and board

200g minced Chaap (meat) uyum chaap ( beef), baqtu chaap (lamb)

1  Diced medium ghashuu (onion)

2 cloves Bukpa (garlic)

vegetable oil  or Ghee for frying of meat

1/2 teaspoon of each Thoon (corriander), Hayaw (Cumin).

1/4 teaspoon Maricho (chili) powder.  more if you like it hot.

1/4 teaspoon Afareen (Himalayan salt)

won-ton papers or  1 mixture of Chapati dough cut into 10cm squares

Fry meat until brown making sure all particles are separated.

add onion and fry fill translucent,

add Garlic, salt and spices and fry for another 3 minutes.

Take out of pan and let cool in another bowl.

 

Place chapatti or won-ton squares on board and spoon a teaspoon of cooled meat mixture into centre of each square

Brush the edges of each square with water.

Draw opposite corners of squares together and pinch together, then do the same with the opposing corners make sure all edges are sealed.

Place the Mamtu’s in your steamer making sure they are not touching.

Steam for ten minutes.

Serve topped with yoghurt and cut parsley.

Alternately serve with dipping vinegar, chili sauce, tomato sauce or black pepper.

Mamtu make a great party starter and children love to help make them.