Hungarian Dumplings Recipes

HUNGARIAN NOKEDLI (DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Place large pot filled with salted water and bring to boil.
• Combine eggs, salt, and water, beating well with whisk.
• Add flour, a little at a time.
• Add only enough flour to make a soft, sticky dough.
• Let mixture rest for about 10 mins.
• Beat mixture again.
• Using the side of a teaspoon, spoon small amount of dough into boiling water.
• Dipping the spoon in the hot water will remove the dough from the spoon (if you have a spaetzel maker, that makes is easier as you want very small noodles).
• The noodles are done when they float to the top.
• Remove from water with large slotted spoon, and place in colander.
• Rinse with cold water.
• You may want to make the dumplings in 2 or 3 batches so they dont overcook.
• Serve with chicken paprikas.
• The dumplings are also nice added to a stew.
• You can heat the dumplings in a frying pan with melted butter.
• Do not let the dumplings get too brown or crisp.

HUNGARIAN DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer, blend the eggs, lard or oil, water, and milk.
• Stir the flour together with 1/2 t of the salt and the baking powder in a dry bowl.
• Blend this mixture into the liquid. Mix well and set aside for a moment.
• Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 teaspoons of salt.
• Using a Spaetzle maker or Spaetzle press, squeeze the dough into the boiling water. Use about 1/3 of the dough for each batch. When the dumplings float to the surface, they are done.
• Remove them with a slotted spoon and place in a colander. They can be served this way with Paprika Gravy or pan-fried with a little butter, just until they are a bit golden, and topped with parsley.
• NOTE: These dumplings can also be made by using a piping bag or dropping very small amounts from a spoon. The latter takes much much longer.

HUNGARIAN DUMPLINGS (NOKEDLI)

Steps:

• Bring around 3 quarts water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt.
• While waiting for the water to boil, make the batter: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, 3/4 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Slowly stir in flour, 1/4 cup at a time. Batter should be sticky, but still a bit loose. You may not need to use all the flour.
• Form dumplings by pressing 1/3 to 1/2 cup batter through a dumpling maker (the large holes on a flat cheese grater, a colander with medium/large holes, or a slotted spoon will also work) directly into the boiling water. Cook for around 2 to 3 minutes. All of the dumplings should have floated to the top of the water.
• Using a slotted spoon, remove cooked dumplings from boiling water, place in a colander and rinse under cold water. Place cooked dumplings in a medium bowl and gently toss with the oil (to keep them from sticking together).
• Repeat with remaining batter.
• Serve immediately.

HUNGARIAN PLUM DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Cook potatoes for dough:
• Cover potatoes with salted cold water (1 tablespoon salt for 2 quarts water) in a large saucepan and simmer until tender, about 40 minutes. Drain potatoes and, when cool enough to handle, peel. Force warm potatoes through ricer into a shallow baking pan and spread out to cool completely.
• Make crumb mixture while potatoes cook:
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until foam subsides, then cook bread crumbs and walnuts, stirring frequently, until crumbs are golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Transfer to a bowl, then stir in 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
• Make dough:
• Transfer cooled potatoes to a bowl and stir in flour, salt, softened butter, and yolks until a dough forms. Knead on a well-floured surface just until smooth, about 1 minute (dough will be soft). Cut dough in half and let stand, uncovered, 15 minutes. Roll out half of dough on floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 10-inch round (1/8 inch thick) and cut out 6 rounds with cutter, reserving scraps.
• Make filling and assemble dumplings:
• Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, then stir together with plums and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Place 1 dough round in center of your hand. Put 1 tablespoon filling in center of round, then fold round in half, forming a semicircle, and pinch edges to seal. Gently form into a ball and gently roll between your palms until smooth. Transfer dumpling to a wax-paper-lined tray. Repeat with remaining 5 dough rounds, then make more dumplings with remaining dough, rerolling scraps.
• Cook and coat dumplings:
• Cook dumplings in a pasta pot of boiling lightly salted water (1 tablespoon salt for 5 quarts water) and simmer, uncovered, until dough is firm to the touch, about 12 minutes. While dumplings cook, melt remaining 4 1/2 tablespoons butter in cleaned 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Gently transfer cooked dumplings with a slotted spoon to skillet, spooning butter over them to coat. Transfer dumplings to a platter and sprinkle with half of crumb mixture. Serve immediately, with remaining crumb mixture on the side.