Kartoffelklösse German Potato Dumplings Recipe 45

Steps:

• Scrub and rinse the potatoes well and place in a large saucepan of cold water. Bring the unpeeled potatoes to the boil, add salt and simmer the potatoes for around 35 minutes or until they are just tender. Drain the potatoes and cool them slightly -just enough so that you can handle them. You should now be able to peel the skins away from the flesh of the potatoes with your bare hands. Once all the potatoes are peeled, cut them into even-sized pieces and refrigerate until cold. The potatoes can be prepared the previous day, if desired. Mash the potatoes with a fork or mashing tool in a large bowl. Mix in the salt and freshly grated nutmeg. Add half a cup of flour and mix to combine. With your hands knead the mixture in the bowl until a smooth soft dough forms, add more flour by the tablespoon if the dough remains sticky. Combine one beaten egg with the mixture. Form the mixture into smooth round balls using ¼ of a cup of dough for each ball. At this stage you may wish to insert acrouton, prune or other filling into each dumpling. Croutons are traditionally used to soak up any extra moisture inside the Kartoffelkloesse. Stoned prunes are a common filling when accompanying a Roast Goose at Christmas. A small spoonful of cooked, flavoured ground beef / mince is also a tasty alternative. Seal the filling closed inside each of the Kartoffelklösse. In a large saucepan of salted simmering water, almost boiling, poach the completed dumplings in batches of 4 to 5. Do not place more than 4 to 5 dumplings in the pot at any one time - to prevent them from sticking together or touching during cooking, which could cause them to fall apart! Cook the dumplings for 10 to 15 minutes or until the dumplings rise to the surface. Remove and drain each of the Kartoffelklösse with a slotted spoon into a serving dish. Keep the dish covered to conserve heat while the remaining dumplings are cooked. (Serves 4 to 6)

Steps:

• Trim crusts off bread and save them for another use.
• Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes and fry in butter and oil mixture until golden brown, transfer to paper towel to dry.
• Cook scrubbed, unpeeled potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 45 minutes.
• Drain.
• Cool slightly.
• Peel.
• Cut potatoes into large pieces.
• Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Mash potatoes with fork or run through ricer into large bowl.
• Mix in salt and nutmeg.
• Add 1/2 cup flour and cornstarch.
• Using hands, knead mixture in bowl until smooth dough forms, adding more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is sticky.
• Mix in egg.
• Form dough into balls, using 1/4 cupful for each.
• Insert bread cube into center of each dumpling; roll dumpling between palms to enclose bread cube completely and form smooth balls.
• Working in batches, cook dumplings in large pot of nearly boiling salted water 10-15 minutes (or until dumplings rise to top).
• Using slotted spoon, transfer dumplings to large bowl.
• Keep covered with a damp kitchen towel as remaining dumplings are cooked.
• You should place no more than 4-5 dumplings in your pot at any one time in order to prevent them from sticking together or touching during cooking, which will cause them to fall apart.

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until the potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes. Drain water, and place potatoes into a large bowl. Mash potatoes, leaving them slightly lumpy (just like making mashed potatoes). Mix in the salt, eggs, flour, 2/3 cup of bread crumbs, and nutmeg. Roll into walnut sized balls. If the dough is too sticky, you may want to mix in more flour or bread crumbs.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Gently drop the dumplings into the water. When they come up to the surface, allow them to boil uncovered for 3 minutes. Remove the dumplings with a slotted spoon, and keep warm.
• While you are waiting for the water to boil, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and 1/4 cup of bread crumbs. Cook, stirring constantly, until the onions are tender, and the sauce has thickened some. Pour sauce over the dumplings before serving.