Buuz (Steamed Mutton Dumplings)

Name: Buuz (Steamed Mutton Dumplings)
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mongolia
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup water; 1 lb ground mutton or lamb; 1 onion, finely minced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp cumin; Salt and pepper, to taste; 2 tbsp water, for the filling

4 servings45 min prep20 min cookMedium Mongolia

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Buuz (Steamed Mutton Dumplings)

Story updated September 17, 2026

Buuz, steamed dumplings filled with mutton and onion, are deeply tied to Mongolia's nomadic herding culture and are eaten in especially large quantities during Tsagaan Sar, the Lunar New Year celebration, when families gather to make hundreds at once. Dumplings spread widely across Eurasia during the era of the Mongol Empire, linking buuz to Chinese baozi and jiaozi.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup water
1 lb ground mutton or lamb
1 onion, finely minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp water, for the filling

Instructions

1Knead flour and water into a smooth dough, cover, and rest 20 minutes.
2Mix ground mutton with onion, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper, and a splash of water until well combined and slightly loose.
3Roll the dough into a log, cut into small pieces, and roll each into a thin round wrapper.
4Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each wrapper and pleat the edges closed at the top, leaving a small opening.
5Arrange the dumplings in a lightly oiled steamer, ensuring they do not touch.
6Steam over boiling water for 15-18 minutes until the filling is cooked through and juicy.
7Serve hot, taking care of the hot broth inside each dumpling.

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