Houskové Knedlíky (Czech Bread Dumplings)
Local name: Houskové knedlíky
In short: Soft sliceable dumplings made from diced day-old rolls, milk, egg and a yeast dough, boiled as loaves and cut with thread to soak up gravy. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Resting
- 50 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 340 kcal
Houskové knedlíky are the bread dumplings that turn up beside svíčková, guláš and roast duck. Instead of small balls, the dough is shaped into long loaves, boiled and sliced with a thread so each slice stays fluffy and ready to soak up sauce. A mix of diced stale rolls and a milk and egg yeast dough gives the typical light texture. Serve them warm and steaming.
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a pan and toss the bread cubes for 3 to 4 minutes until lightly golden. Leave to cool.
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the milk and egg and knead for 5 minutes until smooth. Cover and let it rise for 40 minutes, until doubled.
- Fold the cooled bread cubes into the risen dough until evenly mixed.
- Divide the dough in two. With wet hands, shape each piece into a loaf about 20 cm (8 in) long and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Bring a wide pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Lower in the loaves, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Turn each loaf carefully and simmer for 15 minutes more.
- Lift the loaves out with a slotted spoon and prick all over with a fork so the steam escapes and they do not collapse.
- Slice into 1.5 cm (1/2 in) pieces with a length of thread: slide it under the loaf, cross the ends over the top and pull. Serve warm.
Tips
- Use stale bread. Fresh rolls turn gummy when boiled, so if yours are fresh, dry the cubes in a 120°C (250°F) oven for 15 minutes.
- Slicing with plain thread keeps the slices neat, because a knife squashes the loaf. Pricking right after boiling lets the steam out so they do not shrink.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze Czech bread dumplings?
Yes. Freeze the cooled slices for up to 3 months. Reheat them in a steamer or a covered pan with a splash of water.
How do I reheat leftover dumplings?
Steam the slices for 5 minutes, or fry them in butter until golden, which many Czechs do the next morning with eggs.
Can I make them without yeast?
Yes. Replace the yeast with 1 tsp baking powder and skip the rise. The dumplings will be slightly denser.
How long does it take to make Houskové Knedlíky (Czech Bread Dumplings)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Houskové Knedlíky (Czech Bread Dumplings)?
About 340 kcal per serving, with 10 g of protein, 60 g of carbohydrates and 6 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 340 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbohydrates | 60 g |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 520 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
