Czech Republic Comfort Food Recipe: Bread Dumplings

Prep time of 60 minutes allows dough to sit for 1 hour.

Ingredients for 6 servings

Depending upon serving size, yields 6 to 8 servings.

2 egg yolks

1 1/2 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups instantized flour

• In the United States, I use Gold Medal Wondra

4 cups white bread (fresh or stale), cubed

1. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks and then, adding milk, lightly beat together.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt.

• Add egg mixture into flour and salt, blending well.

3. Work dough by hand or with a dough hook until dough no longer sticks to the bowl.

• Cover; allow to sit for 1 hour.

4. Uncover and work bread cubes into dough until well integrated.

5. Flour hands to shape dough into 3 or 4 long, slim rolls, about elbow-to-wrist length (8 inches long) by palm width (2.5 inches wide).

6. In a stockpot large enough to accommodate rolled dough, quickly bring 6 quarts of water to a boil over high heat.

• Add 6 tablespoons of salt after the full boil; reduce heat to medium.
• With metal spatulas or large slotted spoons (skimmers), carefully lower rolls into water, making sure that they are stable and do not stick to the bottom.
• Cover and cover for 10 to 15 minutes; then carefully turn sides of each roll, cover, and cook for 10 to 15 more minutes.

7. Carefully remove rolls, one by one, with a spatula, skimmer or plate and set on flat surface.

• Test for doneness with toothpick or a small cut across the center.
• Cut each roll widthwise into 3/4-inch slices.
• Note: Traditionally a thread is used to avoid the crushing which occurs with knife slicings.

8. Warm serving platter in microwave or oven and arrange slices for serving.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Note: 

• Leftover bread dumplings may be browned in butter, lard, or oil and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
• Or they may be reheated by steaming.

• My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet. 

Čerstvý, horký, houskový knedlík = fresh, hot bread dumplings: Pastorius, CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HorkyKnedlik.jpg

Hovězí maso, křenová omáčka, houskový knedlík: Dezidor, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hovězí_maso,_křenová_omáčka,_houskový_knedlík.jpg