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Khingal
Xəngəl: Absheron pasta squares with fried lamb mince, onion and garlic yogurt
Khingal is Baku comfort food: squares or diamonds of thin homemade pasta boiled and layered with lamb mince fried with plenty of onion, then topped with garlicky yogurt and a sprinkle of sumac or dried mint. It is the dish Absheron grandmothers make for a crowd, rolling the dough on the big kitchen table. A common mistake is draining the pasta until dry; a little cooking water keeps the layers loose and silky. Chef's tip: fry the onion until deep brown before the mince goes in; that sweet, almost caramelised onion is what makes Baku khingal. Mince must reach 71 °C.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the pasta
- 10 ½ oz plain flour
- 1 egg
- ½ cup water
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp saltfor the water
For the topping
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 3 onionssliced
- 14 oz lamb mince
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the yogurt
- 10 ½ oz plain yogurt
- 2 cloves garliccrushed
- 1 tsp sumac
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 10 ½ oz plain flour, 1 egg, ½ cup water and ½ tsp salt and knead for 8 minutes into a firm, smooth dough. Rest for 30 minutes.
8 minStep 2: Fry 3 onions in 3 tbsp sunflower oil over a medium heat for 15 minutes, until deep brown. Add 14 oz lamb mince, ¾ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper and fry for 8–10 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through to 160°F.
25 minStep 3: Mix 10 ½ oz plain yogurt and 2 cloves garlic.
Step 4: Roll the dough very thin, about 1 mm, and cut into 5 cm squares or diamonds.
Step 5: Boil in plenty of water with 1 tbsp salt for 3–4 minutes, until they float and are tender. Drain, keeping a splash of water. Common mistake: draining them dry; they stick.
4 minStep 6: Layer pasta and lamb on a warm platter, top with garlic yogurt and sprinkle with 1 tsp sumac.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 680 kcal
- Protein
- 36 g
- Carbs
- 68 g
- Fat
- 28 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does khingal take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of egg?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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