Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (2024)

by Nina-Kristin Isensee

Jump to the Recipe

If you’re on the lookout for a new special side dish, you need to try out these classic Southern German bread dumplings, also known as Semmelknödel.

In Germany, these are beloved specialties.

Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (1)

These dumplings are especially great to prepare when you’ve got some older rolls or slices of white bread left over that you would like to use up.

The buns are cut into chunks, soaked in warm milk, and mixed into a dough with some additional flour and eggs. Parsley is typically added, but thyme also works quite nicely.

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Here’s another tip: Prepare the recipe with leftover soft pretzels instead of white bread! This is another popular variety that’s just as delicious as the bread version.

The dumplings pair well with savory meat dishes, and green salads. They also make a nice addition to broths and soups, in place of noodles or matzoh balls. I personally love them with a classic Bavarian cabbage salad with warm bacon.

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Whether intentionally or because you just can‘t manage to eat them all in one sitting, here is a great way to jazz them up the next day:

Cut the dumplings into slices and fry them in a pan with some butter until crispy. Not only is this really tasty, it’s a simple save some time in the kitchen the next day.

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The only thing you should avoid is heating these up in your microwave. This tends to extract all the moisture, making the dumplings dry and flavorless.

What will you serve these with, in an effort to use up some of your kitchen leftovers in a tasty and satisfying way? Let us know in the comments!

The Recipe

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Classic German Bread Dumplings

Votes: 44
Rating: 3.66
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Servings
3 people
Servings
3 people

Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (6)

Classic German Bread Dumplings

Votes: 44
Rating: 3.66
You:

Rate this recipe!

Print Recipe

Servings
3 people
Servings
3 people

Ingredients

  • 8 day-old white buns or slices of white bread
  • 1 cup 2% milk, heated
  • 1 onion peeled and chopped
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1-2 handfuls fresh parsley chopped

Servings: people

Units:

Instructions

  1. Cut the buns into thin slices and place in a bowl. Pour the warm milk over the sliced buns and leave to soak.

  2. Saute the onions in a pan with the butter until golden brown. Set aside to cool for a moment.

  3. In a bowl, thoroughly knead the eggs, flour, salt, parsley, onions, and the soaked buns until combined thoroughly.

  4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

  5. Wet your hands (for a better grip) and form 8-10 dumplings of equal size. Carefully place them in the boiling water and simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes. You'll know they're ready when they float up to the surface on their own and gently rotate. They should feel firm when you remove them from the water.

Nutritional Information*

Nutrition Facts

Classic German Bread Dumplings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 376 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 10g 15%

Saturated Fat 4g 20%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 134mg 45%

Sodium 597mg 25%

Potassium 623mg 18%

Total Carbohydrates 60g 20%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 16g

Protein 17g 34%

Vitamin A 91%

Vitamin C 69%

Calcium 28%

Iron 30%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Cooking by the Numbers…

Step One – Prepare the Bread

Slice the bread into small pieces and add them to a bowl. Pour milk on top of the buns and let them soak.

Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (7)

Step One – Sauté the Veggies

Dice the onions and parsley (optional). Add butter to a skillet and let warm for a minute or two on medium low.

Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (8)

Add the add onions and parsley and sauté until golden brown. Remove from pan and allow to cool.

Step Three – Blend

Add the parsley and onions to the bowl of bread and mix in the eggs, flour, and salt and knead until all of the ingredients are combined thoroughly.

Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (9)

Step Four – Form the Dumplings

Add water and a dash or two of salt to a large stockpot. Wet your hands (for a better grip) and form8-10 ballsof the same size.

Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (10)

Place them in the boiling water and simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes.

Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (11)

You’ll know they’re ready when they float up to the surface on their own and gently rotate. They should feel firm when you remove them from the water.

Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (12)

Whether you are using this to plan a menu for Oktoberfest or just for everyday fare, these dumplings are a perfect excuse to let your bread get too old!

There are bunch of different ways to prepare these – both sweet and savory. For the sweeter side of things, explore our desserty German Dampfnudel dumplings recipe here.

Have you had these before? If so what is your favorite way to prepare them? Tell us in the comments below!

Don’t forget to Pin It!

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Photos by Nina-Kristin Isensee, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Additional writing and editing by Mike Quinn.

*Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (14)

About Nina-Kristin Isensee

Nina lives in Iserlohn, Germany and holds an MA in Art History (Medieval and Renaissance Studies). She is currently working as a freelance writer in various fields. She enjoys travel, photography, cooking, and baking. Nina tries to cook from scratch every day when she has the time and enjoys trying out new spices and ingredients, as well as surprising her family with new cake creations.

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Classic Southern German Bread Dumpling Recipe | Foodal (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to perfect dumplings? ›

Overworking the mixture, thus having heavy dumplings is a common mistake people make. Dumplings need very gentle handling, so mix only until the ingredients are just combined, and if your recipe involves rolling them out with extra flour, avoid using too much.

What is a German dumpling made of? ›

German potato dumplings, also known as kartoffelklöße or kartoffelknödel, are unique spheres of seasoned potatoes and starch. There are many ways to make classic German potato dumplings, including some using all or part raw potatoes, some using wheat flour, and some using part wheat flour and part starch.

What are bread dumplings made of? ›

Bread dumpling recipes are varied across the region, but in general, they use either flour or stale bread, yeast (or other leavening agents), eggs, salt, and a liquid for binding. And then herbs, dried meats, fat, and other ingredients can be added.

Why are my dumplings hard and not fluffy? ›

Using too much flour: If you use too much flour in your dumpling dough, the dumplings will be dense and tough. Be sure to measure the flour carefully and follow the recipe closely. Using the wrong type of flour: Different types of flour have different protein levels, which can affect the texture of the dumplings.

Which flour is best for dumplings? ›

These dumplings start with all-purpose flour, which creates structure and holds the other ingredients together. Baking powder is a leavening agent, which means it releases gas that makes the dough expand. It's responsible for the dumplings' light and fluffy texture.

What are the 3 components of dumplings? ›

What are dumplings made of? The dumpling dough is made of three main ingredients: flour, water and salt.

What is the German national dish? ›

Sauerbraten (pronounced [ˈzaʊ̯ɐˌbʁaːtn̩]) is a traditional German roast of heavily marinated meat. It is regarded as a national dish of Germany, and is frequently served in German-style restaurants internationally.

What are the names of German dumplings? ›

Dumplings are a favorite food throughout Germany. They are known as Klösse in Western and Northern Germany, and Knödel in South-Eastern Germany. Dumplings are made out of a dough (ingredients vary depending on the type of dumpling), most often formed into a ball-shape, then boiled or steamed in salt water.

What does knodel mean in german? ›

Knödel or Klöße are large round poached or boiled potato or bread dumplings, made without yeast. They are normal parts of Austrian, German, Hungarian, Slovakian and Czech cuisine. They come in many different forms.

Why are my bread dumplings falling apart? ›

You added your dumpling to boiling rather than simmering water. Your dumplings are not compact enough. Try to form an even dumpling with no cracks and bulges so water cannot infiltrate the dumpling too rapidly and cause it to swell from the inside. This can cause the dumpling to fall apart.

What are Chateau Bread dumplings? ›

Chateau bread dumplings come from Grandma's (Babi's) recipe and have been sold since the 1930's. • 13oz. Bread Dumplings (9-10 Slices) • Precooked and frozen. • Ideal with gravies, sauerkraut and meats.

Do you cook dumplings with lid on or lid off? ›

Once your water is boiling, let your dumplings cook in the steam for about ten minutes. Don't remove the lid as letting the steam escape will disrupt the cooking process and result in undercooked dumplings, so keep that lid on!

Can you use plain flour for dumplings? ›

For dumplings made with wheat flour, all purpose or plain flour will suffice. If your recipe calls for leavening, you'll need to add baking powder and salt. Alternatively, you can use self-rising flour which has the leavening included. For a lot of dumplings, plain flour is all that is required with no baking powder.

What keeps dumplings from falling apart? ›

The liquid should be at a low/moderate steady boil. If it's boiling too hard, the dumpling dough can fall apart. Simmering broth might not be hot enough to raise the dumpling dough. Remove or tilt the lid after they've cooked so the dumplings don't over-steam and get soggy and dense.

How to make dumplings juicy? ›

Hand-mincing meat and adding more pork belly results in the juiciest dumplings. Traditionally, some Chinese cuisine uses hand minced meat for their dishes. For example, lots of dim sum items like siu mai, pork buns, beef meatball, and more use hand minced meat to control the texture and fat content of the dish!

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