Which Russian dumpling is a popular street food?

The Russian dumpling that is a popular street-food-style snack is pelmeni. Each dumpling wraps a savory filling, usually minced meat, in a thin, unleavened dough wrapper.

Pelmeni became especially important in the Ural Mountains and Siberia, where the dumplings could be prepared in batches, frozen, and boiled quickly. Traditional fillings vary, but combinations of beef, pork, and mutton are common; onions, black pepper, and herbs add flavor. They are usually boiled until they float and are then served with butter, vinegar, mustard, or smetana, the Russian word for sour cream.

The name is linked to Komi and Udmurt words meaning “ear bread,” describing the dumpling’s shape. Pelmeni are often confused with pierogi, gyoza, or manti, but they differ in regional history, dough, size, and customary fillings. In modern Russia, frozen pelmeni are also a major convenience food.