Vinaigrette Salad
6 beets (about 2 inches in diameter)
8 medium potatoes
4 carrots
3 dill pickles (or one 8 inch cucumber)
1 medium onion or 6 scallions
Dressing
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup lemon juice (fresh is better)
2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon dill weed
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Scrub beets, potatoes and carrots and boil together. Check after 15 minutes and remove potatoes and carrots as they finished, letting beets continue cooking until done. Cool and peel. Cut beets, carrots and potatoes into serving size and combine in mixing bowl. Chop onion and pickles and add.
Combine lemon juice and oil with dill, add salt and pepper (adjust amounts to your taste. Pour over salad vegetables and stir (everything will turn various tones of magenta). Chill at least two hours before serving.
Serves 10 to 12.
Spinach and Yogurt Salad
You can make a meal of this by serving it with wedges of pita bread.
2 bunches spinach, well rinsed and stemmed
or 1 package pre-washed baby spinach
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly-ground pepper
Steam the spinach until it is tender and bright green, about two minutes. Drain, cool, and squeeze it to remove excess water. Chop the spinach as finely as you can.
In a large bowl, combine it with the remaining ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for one hour or more before serving.
Serves 4.
Pelmeni (Russian Dumplings)
This is a traditional Russian dish that is made in many Kazakstani homes.
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Garlic, to taste
To make the dough, combine the flour, eggs, water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Knead mixture. Let rest for 30 minutes.
Mix the ground beef, ground pork, onions, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper and garlic together. Roll the dough into a thin layer and cut into small circles. Place a small amount of meat in the center of each circle of dough. Fold the edges of the dough over the meat to form a ravioli-shaped dumpling. Boil the Pelmeni in salted water for seven minutes, or until they float to the surface. Serve them in soup plates with sour cream or in broth.