Zwetschkenknodel, an Austrian dish my grandfather used to love. Aka Plum Dumplings, aka Plumplings.
- Servings: 8-12, depending on size of plum
- Calories per dumpling: ???
- Fine grater, i.e. the finest side on a 4-sided cheese grater
- Or a ricer
- A large mixing bowl, preferrably glass because you will be scraping it
- Slotted spoon
- 500g potatoes
- 12 plums (may not use all of them, depending on size)
- 125g all-purpose flour
- 3tbsp wheat semolina
- salt
- 1tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 42g unsalted butter
- 50g plain, fine, dry breadcrumbs
- 50g hazelnuts (pre-ground if possible)
- 2tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/4tsp cinnamon
- Powdered sugar (aka icing sugar)
- melt 1tbsp of butter in the microwave
- Measure 125g flour
- Measure 3tbsp semolina
- Boil the potatoes for 25 minutes
- While the potatoes boil
- Wash the plums
- Pit the plums
- Cut lengthways, but not from arse to elbow. Just enough to be able to reach the pit. Pull the pit out once you can reach it.
- When cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes and grate (or rice) them into large mixing bowl
- Make the dough
- Sprinkle in 1/4tsp of salt
- Add 1tbsp melted butter
- Add 125g flour
- Add 3tbsp semolina
- Stir until most of the flour is worked in
- Add the egg and incorporate with a fork
- Knead briefly, until a sticky dough forms
- Make the dumplings
- Divid the dough into 9 portions
- Depending on the size of the plums, you may end up being able to make more or fewer portions.
- Only go up to 12 if you want the pastry very thin. This makes it more difficult to work with.
- Now may be a good time to boil a kettle ahead of the next big step, boiling the dumplings
- Flour your hands, and flatten each portion to a flat circle
- For each plum
- Tightly wrap the dough around the plum, sealing the edges and shaping it into a ball
- If the edge isn’t sticking, dip your finger in water and wet the edge to close the dough around the plum
- Be careful not to trap any air inside
- Divid the dough into 9 portions
- Cook dumplings
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a simmer
- Cook dumplings for 12-15 minutes in simmering water
- You will know they are done when they have all floated to the top
- Ensure that they do not stick to the bottom
- While that is cooking, begin making the coating
- Ground 50g of hazelnuts (or measure if pre-ground)
- Measure 50g of breadcrumbs
- Measure 30g of powdered sugar
- Melt 3tbsp butter in a large pan
- Add the breadcrumbs and grated nuts
- Stir well on medium heat for 3 minutes
- Stir in the pre-measured nutmeg, and 1/4tsp cinnamon
- Turn off heat
- Continue stirring infrequently, keep a close eye
- The residual heat can burn the breadcrumbs
- Remove dumplings with a slotted spoon, transfer to the pan and roll in the breadcrumbs
- Dust them with powdered sugar and serve
- Consider adding granulated sugar to sweeten them. The source recipe mentions it as optional but I decided to try it without first.