Kniddelen (Luxembourg Flour Dumplings with Crisp Bacon)
In short: Soft homemade flour dumplings boiled until they float, then tossed with crisp bacon and its fat and served with apple compote. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 610 kcal
Kniddelen are small, soft flour dumplings that Luxembourg cooks make through the colder months, when a plate of something warm and filling is welcome. The dough takes minutes to mix from flour, eggs and milk, and the dumplings are scraped into simmering water with two spoons. They are tossed with crisp bacon and its fat and eaten with chives or parsley and a spoonful of apple compote, which cuts the richness.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, 1 tsp salt and the nutmeg in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Whisk the eggs and milk together and pour into the well. Stir from the center outward, pulling in the flour, then beat with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes to a thick, sticky dough. Rest for 10 minutes.
- Bring the water and 1 tbsp salt to a gentle simmer in a wide pot.
- Dip two spoons into the water. Scoop a small portion of dough with one and scrape it into the water with the other. Cook in batches of 10 to 12 so the pot does not cool down.
- Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, until the dumplings float and are cooked through. Lift them out with a slotted spoon into a warm bowl.
- Fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until crisp and the fat has rendered.
- Add the dumplings and toss them in the bacon and fat for 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly golden at the edges. Sprinkle with chives and serve hot with apple compote.
Tips
- Dip the spoons into the simmering water each time so the sticky dough slides off. The dumplings come out irregular, which is part of their charm.
- Leftover kniddelen reheat well in a hot frying pan with a little butter until golden at the edges.
Questions and answers
What are kniddelen?
Kniddelen are Luxembourg flour dumplings made from a thick batter of flour, eggs and milk, simmered in salted water and usually served with fried bacon.
What do you serve with kniddelen?
Crisp bacon and its fat, chives or parsley and apple compote. A dry white wine from the Moselle is a traditional drink with them.
Can I make kniddelen ahead of time?
Yes. Cook and cool the dumplings, toss them with a little oil and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Fry them in a hot pan with the bacon just before serving.
How long does it take to make Kniddelen (Luxembourg Flour Dumplings with Crisp Bacon)?
About 55 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kniddelen (Luxembourg Flour Dumplings with Crisp Bacon)?
About 610 kcal per serving, with 21 g of protein, 68 g of carbohydrates and 27 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 610 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 21 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68 g |
| Fat | 27 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 1400 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
