During her latest visit to Moscow, she couldn’t resist stopping by "Varenichnaya #1" on the Arbat –part of a restaurant chain based in the Russian capital.
So what is it so special about the food served at this venue that a high-ranking US diplomat can't make a trip to Moscow without stopping by her "favorite pelmeni place?"
Nuland - can't make a trip to Moscow without stopping by our favorite pelmeni place. pic.twitter.com/14o2diQAhv
— Will Stevens (@WBStevens) 18 мая 2016 г.
Alexander, the chef who cooked for Nuland during her latest visit to the place, shared some of his trade secrets with Sputnik.
This is how you cook vareniki stuffed with cherries.
In order to prepare the dough you’ll need 350 grams of flour, one egg, 300 grams of water and a pinch of salt.
For the stuffing you’ll need a kilo of frozen cherries, 300 grams of sugar, 2 grams of vanilla and 3 grams of cinnamon.
Mix the dough and leave it covered with cling film for 20 minutes. Roll out the dough as thin as possible, and then cut it into small circles.
Take one circle, put 2-3 frozen cherries on top of it, season them with sugar or vanilla sugar, then pinch the circle’s edges together tightly. Rinse and repeat.
Boil the vareniki for 10 minutes then serve them with butter, sugar powder and sour cream, with an optional cinnamon seasoning.
Care to give it a try?