They are very fond of dumplings in Russia, so the opinion that dumplings were invented in our country is very popular. In fact, this is not the case. Dumplings are eaten in different countries, and many peoples credit themselves with the invention of this dish.
Origin of dumplings: versions
The name of the dish comes from the Udmurt and Permian languages and means "ear of bread", "ear of dough". That is, the dish got its name because of its original shape. In different countries, there are many legends about the origin of dumplings. Basically, this is one way or another interpreted story about resourceful poor people, when all kinds of dough products with various fillings appeared as a way out of difficult situations. There are also such legends in which the creation of dumplings is attributed to deities. This is stated in one of the Finnish legends: one of the gods somehow decided to mold something like dumplings from the remnants of dough and minced lamb, threw them to people and thus fed half of the village.
The version of the origin of dumplings also exists in Western Europe. Europeans claim that they were invented by an unknown monk during the Thirty Years War. In a time of famine, he managed to get a large piece of meat, and he chopped it up with herbs and spices, wrapped it in minced meat and thus fed the whole monastery. Udmurts and Tatars consider dumplings to be a ritual dish. It symbolizes human sacrifice to the gods of all kinds of livestock. Until now, minced meat for the Ural dumplings is made from three types of meat: lamb, pork and beef. Moreover, the "ritual" ratio of types of meat in the preparation of dumplings must be strictly observed.
How dumplings appeared in Russia
There is not only "western", but also "eastern" version of the origin of dumplings. According to her, this dish, which has become familiar in our country, was brought with them by the Mongols. This opinion is based on the fact that the method of preparing dumplings is typical for Chinese cuisine. The preliminary preparation takes a long time and the heat treatment is very short. This, as well as the use of spices that are not typical for Russia, imported, indirectly proves the "Eastern" theory of the origin of dumplings. By the way, in China, dumplings are quite popular, especially in that part of the country where the climate is sharply continental.
Dumplings quickly spread across Eastern Siberia - severe frosts made it possible to store them throughout the winter. In addition, meat with spices rolled up in dough is not as attractive to thieving Siberian animals as just a piece of frozen meat. But throughout Russia, dumplings spread relatively recently - at the end of the 19th century.
