Zur Balish: Recipe For The Tatar National Pie With Photo And Video

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Zur balish - a recipe for a traditional Tatar pie

Among the large number of dishes of Tatar cuisine, Zur balish occupies a special place. Literally this name is translated as "big pie". And it is really big, both in size and in importance in folk traditions. Zur balish is prepared on the most solemn occasions, and the honor to cut, or rather, to open it, falls only to the most worthy and respected people.

How to make zur balish

With its appearance, the pie resembles a cauldron, inside which there is a filling of meat and potatoes. A pre-prepared broth is also introduced inside, which makes the filling very juicy.

For zur balish you will need:

• 700 g wheat flour;
• 200 g sour cream;
• 150 g of kefir;
• 1 chicken egg;
• 200 g butter;
• 1 tbsp. l. vegetable oil;
• 1 tsp baking soda;
• ½ tsp. vinegar 9%;
• 1 1/3 tsp salt;
• 1.5 kg of meat;
• 1.5 kg of potatoes;
• 2 large onions;
• 300 ml of water;
• ground black pepper - to taste.

Traditionally, beef or lamb is put in zur balish, but any meat can be used. The main thing is that it has fat on it. I especially enjoy making the stuffing with duck or goose. And you can also cabbage, pumpkin instead of potatoes or with it. Or replace vegetables with rice. Of course, this will no longer be a traditional zur balish, but what a space for imagination!

1. Prepare the dough: combine sour cream, egg, kefir, vegetable and melted butter in a deep bowl. Season with salt and soda, quenching with vinegar. Add flour gradually, sifting it, and knead the dough so that it becomes elastic and smooth. Roll the dough into a ball and set aside, covered with a towel.

   

   The pie dough must be firm and elastic

2. In the meantime, make the filling. Cut the meat and potatoes into small equal sized pieces (about 1.5 x 1.5 cm). Chop the onion finely. Stir the food, salt and pepper.

   

   Chop meat, potatoes, onions and mix

3. It's time for the broth. In principle, you can use any broth, but traditionally you need to boil 300 g of water, add 50 g of butter, 1/3 tsp. salt, and boil for 2 minutes.

   

   Zur balish broth is best done in butter

4. Now you need to collect the cake. To do this, you need a frying pan or other similar shape with thick walls. Outside, it must be wrapped in a dense cloth so that the dough hanging from the sides does not break.

   

   The best dish for baking zur balisha is a thick-walled pan

5. Knead the dough and divide into 2 parts. Their ratio should be 1: 3. For the most part, we will arrange the filling, from the smaller we will make a lid. You also need to separate a piece of dough, which will become the “navel” covering the broth hole.

   

   Divide the dough into several pieces

6. Roll out the larger dough ball into a large, thin layer. Place it in a mold so that the edges hang 5–6 cm from the sides. Place the filling inside.

   

   Distribute the filling over the dough mold

7. Divide the smaller portion of the dough in half. Roll out one half, cover the filling, pinch the edges of the layers.

   

   Cover the filling with a layer of dough

8. Roll out the other half and make cuts in it in a circle.

   

   Make cuts in the form of sun rays

9. Place it on top of the "lid" and pinch the edges again. Punch a hole in the center down to the filling.

   

   Shape the cake to the end

10. For now, the hole needs to be covered with a “navel”.

    

    A piece of dough will serve as a “navel” covering the broth hole

11. Brush the top of the pie with butter. Place in an oven preheated to 200 ° C. After 1 hour and 15 minutes, take out the cake, lift the "navel" and add the broth. Return the "navel" to the center of the pie and send the pie to bake for another 30-40 minutes.

    

    The broth must be poured inside the pie during baking.

12. Serve zur balish on the table in the form in which it was baked.

    

    Serve zur balish hot

Video recipe for making the Tatar national pie

Now you also know how to properly prepare the national Tatar zur balish. Remember that it is also necessary to treat them to guests correctly: each guest should get both the lid, and the filling, and the bottom of the pie. Enjoy your meal!