Ovocné Knedlíky (Czech Fruit Dumplings)
Local name: Ovocné knedlíky
In short: Soft quark-dough dumplings wrapped around sweet plums or apricots, boiled, then rolled in buttery breadcrumbs and dusted with powdered sugar. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 510 kcal
Ovocné knedlíky are fruit dumplings, a sweet main dish that Czech children grow up on and adults still crave in summer. A soft quark dough is wrapped around a whole plum or apricot, simmered, then rolled in browned butter and breadcrumbs and showered with powdered sugar. Strawberries and cherries are used too. Make sure the quark is dry, or the dough turns sticky.
Instructions
- Mix the quark, egg, flour, semolina and salt into a soft dough. Knead briefly on a floured counter and rest for 20 minutes so the semolina can swell.
- Cut a small slit in each plum and remove the pit. Fill each fruit with 1 tsp of sugar.
- Divide the dough into 12 pieces of about 40 g each. Flatten each piece into a round about 8 cm (3 in) across with floured hands.
- Wrap each round around a fruit, pinch the seam closed tightly and roll between your palms into a smooth ball. Cover with a damp towel.
- Bring a wide pot of water with 1 tbsp salt to a gentle boil. Lower in the dumplings in batches, and simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once. They rise to the surface after about 4 minutes but need the full time.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan and fry the breadcrumbs for 2 to 3 minutes until golden.
- Lift the dumplings out with a slotted spoon, roll them in the buttered crumbs and dust with powdered sugar. Serve warm.
Tips
- Use dry quark. If it is wet, drain it in a cloth for an hour, or the dough turns sticky and falls apart in the water.
- Cook one dumpling first as a test. If it breaks, work 2 tbsp more flour into the dough. Larger fruit needs 3 to 4 more minutes of simmering.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze fruit dumplings?
Yes. Freeze the uncooked dumplings on a tray, then bag them for up to 2 months. Boil from frozen for 15 to 18 minutes.
What fruit works best in knedlíky?
Small plums, apricots and strawberries are classic. Cherries and blueberries also work. Pit larger fruit and keep it whole.
Do I need semolina?
Semolina absorbs moisture and gives a firmer dumpling, but you can replace it with 1 extra tbsp of flour.
How long does it take to make Ovocné Knedlíky (Czech Fruit Dumplings)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 45 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ovocné Knedlíky (Czech Fruit Dumplings)?
About 510 kcal per serving, with 16 g of protein, 75 g of carbohydrates and 16 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 510 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16 g |
| Carbohydrates | 75 g |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 30 g |
| Sodium | 280 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
