Kluski Recipes

KLUSKI EGG NOODLES (POLISH-STYLE PASTA FOR SOUPS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk flour and salt together. Make a well in the center.
• Fill the well with a whole egg and 2 egg yolks.
• Add a tablespoon of fat. I like to add clarified butter for recipes like these, but you can replace it with any other fat (such as canola or olive oil).
• Combine all the ingredients with a fork. As soon a soft ball forms, pull the dough off the fork.
• Start kneading the dough by hand. It takes a while to turn smooth and elastic: depending on the size of the eggs, anywhere between 20 minutes up to an hour (that's an extreme end). It took me around 25-30 minutes, but I watched my favourite show as I was kneading. :-D
• If you prefer to use a stand mixer (with a dough hook), simply hold back a tiny bit of flour and only add it when necessary. If the dough appears too dry, add a spoonful of water. Observe the dough, after 20 minutes it should be well kneaded.
• Form a ball and wrap it in cling film. Place it in the fridge and let it rest for a minimum of an hour (and a maximum of a day).
• Set out a large area to work in. If you have a pasta / pastry board, use it. Dust it with some flour.
• Take the dough out of the fridge and cut it into 3 pieces. Take one piece and cover the rest with the foil (don't let them dry out).
• Place that chosen piece of dough onto the work surface and roll it out. Roll it out as thinly as possible. I use a rolling pin so it takes a few minutes, but if you have a pasta maker - feel free to use it.
• Roll this thin pancake into, well...a roll, and slice this roll into noodles with a very sharp knife. [The width of my kluski noodles was about 0.5 inch (1.25 mm)]. Place the sliced ​​noodles into a bowl and sprinkle them lightly with flour.
• Repeat with the other pieces of dough.
• It's worth picking up the noodles you're already made, and moving them around. That will let noodles dry and will prevent them from sticking.
• Noodles are ready to be cooked. If you prefer to cook them later, here are your options:
• If you're planning to cook them within the next two days, just spread the raw noodles on your work space and let them dry for an hour. Then dust them with a little bit of flour and place them in a container with a lid (a zip food bag works too). Chill in the fridge until you're ready to cook your kluski noodles.
• If you're planning to cook these noodles even later, freeze them instead. Just move them into a freezer-friendly bag, label it with the date and description and place it in the freezer. Consume within 2-3 months.
• Are you hungry now? Great, let's cook kluski noodles straight away. Boil a large pot of water (I use the size of 3 quarts / 3 litres). Add a teaspoon of salt into it, then throw all of the noodles in.
• Stir a little and reduce the heat, so that the water boils gently. Once the noodles start to float (it took 3 minutes in my case), they're cooked. The exact cooking time will depend on how thick your noodles are and how wide the cut was. It's best to test them empirically, by having a bite. If a noodle is pleasantly soft (yet still firm) - that's the time to drain them all in a colander.
• Serve these kluski noodles in a soup of your choice (e.g. Rosół, Pomidorowa) or treat it just like a regular pasta - add some sauce, cheese, herbs and spices.

KLUSKI

Steps:

• Get a large kettle of salt water boiling.
• Peel the potatoes and then grate them in a large bowl. Use the "pokey" side of your hand grater so it creates a potato mash. Don't worry when the top of the potato mash turns a brownish color -- that's what happens when the potatoes are exposed to air.
• Add egg and salt to the mash and mix. Salt is approximately 1 teaspoon -- not an exact measurement.
• Start adding flour. I use a sifter to evenly add over the top of the mash. Mix in and add more. Continue doing this until the mix is too thick to stir, then start using your hands. Continue adding flour until it is like a thick dough.
• Pat out on cutting board approximately 3/4" to 1" thick and cut into approxiamtely 1 1/2" wide strips.
• Start frying bacon in a large pan.
• Put several strips on a plate and set edge of plate on edge of kettle. With a butter knife, cut/break/slide a dumpling size chunk into the boiling salt water. Tap knife on edge of kettle to get it to fall off knife. If dough continues to stick to knife, just dip the knife in the water on occasion. Repeat until done. This goes much faster is you can get someone to help you with a second plate.
• Cook dumplings approximately 35-45 minutes. Stir frequently to keep dumplings from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Water WILL get thick and starchy when nearly finished cooking. This is where you have to keep an eye in them because it's easy to burn at this point.
• Finish cooking bacon until crisp.
• Remove dumplings from heat and drain using a large slotted spoon/scoop and place a layer in a large bowl. Add a layer of bacon. Add another layer of dumplings and another layer of bacon. Drizzle a little bacon grease over several layers for added flavor. Repeat until all dumplings and bacon are used.
• Serve hot. Sprinkle a little salt on top and add butter if you wish.
• Enjoy!

POLISH POTATO DROP DUMPLINGS (KARTOFLANE KLUSKI)

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together grated potato, flour, milk, salt, and pepper until a thick paste forms.
• Dip a teaspoon in the boiling water, then dip a teaspoon in the dumpling mixture-picking up half a teaspoon or so-and slide it into the gently boiling water . Continue until all the dumpling dough is gone.
• Simmer about 20 minutes or until dumplings taste done. Drain in a colander and serve as a side dish, a Lenten/vegetarian meal or in soup.

BUSIA'S POLISH KLUSKI

Steps:

• Mix all of the above ingredients together,except bacon, adding just enough flour to make a doughy consistency.
• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water.
• Smear potato mixture on a small saucer and flick about one inch pieces into the boiling water.
• Start with just a few pieces - if they break apart, you need to add more flour to the mixture. If they stay together in the boiling water, cook until they float to the top, then cook another 3-4 minutes.
• Drain well and put into a casserole.
• Cook bacon pieces in a small frying pan until crisp, then dump grease and bacon over the top of the kluski - toss to coat.
• Serve warm with pork and applesauce.

HOLY HALUSKI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the noodles.
• In a large Dutch oven, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat and add the pancetta. Cook, stirring, until crisp, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove the pancetta to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve.
• Strain the fat from the pancetta into a bowl and wipe the pot clean. Add back in 2 tablespoons of the pancetta fat and melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in the pot. Reserve the remaining pancetta fat for another use or discard.
• Add the onions, cabbage, carrots and thyme. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and half the pepper. Stir to coat the vegetables with the butter. Cover and cook until the cabbage is wilted and almost tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover and simmer until the cabbage is very tender, about 10 more minutes.
• While the cabbage cooks, add the noodles to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions.
• Increase the heat to high and cook, stirring, until the cabbage and onions are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Add in the garlic and capers and cook for 1 minute. Add the peas, deglaze the pan with the white wine and add the lemon juice. Add in three-quarters of the pancetta, combine well and remove from heat.
• Drain the noodles and add to the pot with the cabbage. Toss well to coat the noodles with the cabbage and onion mixture. Sprinkle with the parsley, remaining pancetta and remaining pepper. Serve immediately.

POLISH KLUSKI NOODLE (KLUSKI DO ROSOLU)

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer or food processor (or by hand), combine flour and salt. Add eggs and enough water so dough forms into a ball.
• Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 to 8 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes.
• Roll out dough on a floured surface as thinly as possible. Do not cover. Let dry for 30 minutes but no longer otherwise it will crack when you try to cut it.
• Either roll the dough into a cylinder and slice, or slice dough into 3-inch wide strips, flour and stack them on top of each other, then slice 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch across.
• Scatter noodles across a floured surface so they don't stick together. Let dry 30 minutes. Cook in boiling, salted water 5 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness and your preference. Drain.
• If you want to save the noodles for later use, make sure they are completely dry before storing.

HALUSKI - CABBAGE AND NOODLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in egg noodles and return to a boil. Cook noodles uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender but still slightly firm, about 5 minutes. Drain well.
• Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat; cook and stir onions until translucent, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Cook and stir remaining butter and cabbage into onions until cabbage is softened but not browned, 5 to 8 more minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Place cooked noodles and cabbage mixture in a large roasting pan and stir gently to combine. Sprinkle with more salt and black pepper if desired.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, 30 to 40 minutes.

EASY AND QUICK HALUSHKI

Steps:

• Snip bacon into small pieces with a scissors and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Cook and stir onion with bacon until translucent, about 5 more minutes; set bacon and onion aside, leaving drippings in the skillet.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook egg noodles in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Drain.
• Transfer bacon and onion mixture with drippings into the pot used to cook the noodles and cook and stir cabbage until coated with drippings. Cover pot and cook until cabbage is tender, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Gently stir in noodles and season to taste with salt and black pepper.