Best 4 German Bread Dumplings Semmelknodel Recipes

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German bread dumplings, also known as Semmelknödel, are a staple of German cuisine, often served as a side dish to hearty meat dishes like roast pork, beef, or venison. These dumplings are typically made with stale bread, milk, eggs, onions, and herbs, and are known for their soft, fluffy texture and savory flavor. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting out, this article will guide you through the process of making authentic German bread dumplings, providing you with detailed instructions and tips to ensure you achieve perfect results every time.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

SEMMELKNOEDEL (BREAD DUMPLINGS)



Semmelknoedel (Bread Dumplings) image

My Bavarian Oma made these large dumplings to accompany roast pork or game dishes, any meat with gravy, or with mushrooms in a creamy sauce. Serve one dumpling alongside your dish, and cover with a little gravy.

Provided by Peachy

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Dumpling Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (1 pound) loaf stale French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
½ cup dry bread crumbs

Steps:

  • Place the bread cubes into a large bowl. Heat the milk until it starts to bubble at the edges, then pour it over the bread cubes. Stir briefly to coat the bread. Let soak for 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions; cook and stir until tender. Stir in the parsley, and remove from the heat. Mix into the bowl with the bread along with the eggs, salt and pepper. Use your hands, squeezing the dough through your fingers until it is smooth and sticky.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. The water should be at least 3 or 4 inches deep. When the water is boiling, make a test dumpling about the size of a small orange or tangerine, by patting and cupping between wet hands. Gently drop into the boiling water. If it falls apart, the dough is too wet. In this case, stir some bread crumbs into the rest of the dumpling batter.
  • Form the remaining dough into large dumplings, and carefully drop into the boiling water. Simmer for 20 minutes, then remove to a serving plate with a large slotted spoon. They should come out soft, spongy and delicious!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 506.1 calories, Carbohydrate 78.8 g, Cholesterol 113.1 mg, Fat 12.3 g, Fiber 3.9 g, Protein 20.5 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 1220.1 mg, Sugar 7.9 g

SEMMELKNöDEL (GERMAN BREAD DUMPLINGS)



Semmelknödel (German Bread Dumplings) image

A specialty of the Bavaria region of southern Germany, drenched in gravy these SemmelKnödel are simply heaven! Serve them with beef or pork roast, any kind of sauce/gravy, goulash and more!

Provided by Kimberly Killebrew

Categories     Side Dish

Time 35m

Number Of Ingredients 12

11 ounces of white crusty bread (traditionally Brötchen/crispy bread rolls are used)
Note: It's more convenient to use bags of unseasoned bread stuffing - it's already cubed, simply let it dry out a little longer. (I do not advise using croutons though as they're too hard.)
1 cup hot milk
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup very finely diced yellow onion
4 strips bacon, diced and fried until crisp (, optional for a variation called Speckknödel (Bacon Bread Dumplings))
2 large eggs (, lightly beaten with a fork)
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt (you can use less if using bacon)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
breadcrumbs, as needed

Steps:

  • Chop the hardened bread into small cubes and place them in a large bowl. Pour the hot milk over the bread, cover and let sit for 20-30 minutes or until softened.
  • Heat the butter in a frying pan and cook the onions just until transparent, do not brown them. Add the cooked onions to the bread mixture along with the eggs, cooked bacon (if using), parsley, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Knead the mixture together with your hands until very thoroughly combined, breaking up as many of the bread cubes as you can until it's a soft and chunky-smooth consistency. If the dough is too wet, add breadcrumbs (not flour).
  • Wet your hands to prevent the dough from sticking and form Knödel about the size of a tennis ball (they will expand slightly when cooked). Press the Knoedel between your palms to make sure they're nice and compact. Bring a large, wide pot of lightly salted water to a very light simmer - not boiling but just on the verge of boiling with tiny fizzy bubbles floating up. Carefully drop the Semmel Knoedel in the water and let them "steep" 15-20 minutes. Do not at any point let the water boil or you risk your Knödel losing shape or falling apart. Carefully lift them out with a slotted spoon. Serve with Rouladen, Sauerbraten, Senfbraten, Geschnetzeltes, Jaegerschnitzel, etc.
  • To Freeze The Knödel: Let them cool completely, place them spread apart on a cookie sheet and freeze them, then transfer them to a freezer bag or container. To reheat, let them thaw and reheat them covered (to create some steam) in the microwave.
  • Makes 6-7 Semmelknödel, depending on the size.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 Knödel, Calories 211 kcal, Carbohydrate 29 g, Protein 8 g, Fat 6 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 63 mg, Sodium 714 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 6 g

GERMAN BREAD DUMPLINGS (SEMMELKNODEL )



German Bread Dumplings (Semmelknodel ) image

Make and share this German Bread Dumplings (Semmelknodel ) recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Connie K

Categories     Breads

Time 35m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 lb day-old white bread, cut into 10 slices
1 cup milk, warmed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

Steps:

  • Break bread into small pieces; place in a medium bowl; Pour warm milk over bread.
  • Heat oil in a medium skillet; Add onion; sauté until golden brown.
  • Add sautéed onion, and remaining ingredients to bread mixture; blend well; mixture should be stiff; Add bread or milk to adjust consistency.
  • Working with floured hands, form smooth paste into a roll about 2 1/2 inches in diameter; Cut roll into 8 pieces; form each piece into a dumpling.
  • Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil; Add dumplings, one at a time, to boiling water, making sure they are not overcrowded; Do not cover; Simmer over low heat about 15 minutes.
  • Dumplings are done when they float.
  • Carefully remove dumplings with a slotted spoon; drain well.
  • Serve immediately with roast meat and gravy or sauce and cooked kale; dumplings are excellent with roast goose or duck.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 143.2, Fat 5.6, SaturatedFat 1.7, Cholesterol 74, Sodium 333.3, Carbohydrate 17.4, Fiber 1, Sugar 1.9, Protein 5.7

SEMMELKNOEDEL A.K.A. GERMAN BREAD DUMPLINGS WITH GOULASH SOUP RECIPE - (4.4/5)



Semmelknoedel a.k.a. German Bread Dumplings with Goulash Soup Recipe - (4.4/5) image

Provided by Lsweetnell

Number Of Ingredients 25

Note: This recipe makes half as many as shown in images.
FOR THE Semmelknoedel
8 cups cubed old bread
1/4 cup finely diced onion
1 stalk finely diced celery
3 eggs
1/2 cup butter (melted)
2 Tbsp. dried Parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Pot of boiling water.
FOR GOULASH SOUP
Authentic Hungarian Goulash
1-2 lbs. chuck or arm roast, cut into 1″ cubes (for a shortcut, buy prepackaged stew meat)
1 large onion, diced finely
1 stick butter
1 tbsp. smoky Hungarian paprika
1 cup of your favorite red wine
1 cup V8 Juice
2-4 cups of Water
1 small can of tomato paste
1 heaping tsp jarred minced garlic (or 3 cloves crushed)
Salt & pepper to taste
Optional: Cornstarch slurry
(boiled potatoes), or spaetzle.

Steps:

  • FOR NOODLES: Put cubed bread in a large mixing bowl. In a small saute pan, saute onions, celery until tender, let cool. In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs and whisk in melted butter, onions, celery, parsley, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture over the bread. Mix and mash with your hands until every single cube of bread is evenly moist. Remove any pieces that are still dry. You might want to add a little chicken stock to ensure bread is moistened. Form into tightly-packed billiards-sized balls. They'll plump up to the size of tennis balls while cooking. Cover with a clean towel and let sit for 1 hour Fill a pot (large enough to accommodate the number of balls you plan to make) about 1/2 way to 2/3 with water and chicken stock bring to boil. Using a spoon, set dumplings into the boiling water. Once they're all in, let cook for 20 minutes. If making a double or quadruple batch, let cook for 30 minutes. Remove from water with slotted spoon and place on a serving dish Drain off excess water before serving. Another meal idea: Drop one in a bowl of chicken broth for a delicious Semmelknoedelsuppe similar to Jewish matzo ball soup. ☕ FOR SOUP: Melt the butter on medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or stew pot then brown the meat in batches. Transfer meat to a dish and set aside. Saute diced onion in the same pot until it begins to caramelize. Stir in paprika and cook for a minute or two. Add wine and meat. Cook, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid is gone. Add water just to cover meat. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and let simmer over very low heat for 90 minutes. For a thicker gravy: Corn starch slurry = 2 heaping tbsp. cornstarch dissolved in 1 cup cold water. Stir into boiling sauce at the very end of cooking. Turn down to simmer and cook for an additional 5 minutes until sauce is slightly thickened. Serve over semmelknoedel (German bread dumplings), egg noodles such as Reames, salzkartoffeln

Tips:

  • Use stale bread for the best results. Fresh bread will result in dumplings that are too soft and dense.
  • Soak the bread in milk or water before adding it to the dumpling mixture. This will help the bread to absorb the liquid and become soft and pliable.
  • Add some grated onion or garlic to the dumpling mixture for extra flavor.
  • Cook the dumplings in a large pot of boiling salted water. Make sure the water is boiling rapidly before adding the dumplings, otherwise they will stick to the bottom of the pot.
  • Cook the dumplings for about 10 minutes, or until they are cooked through. The dumplings should be firm to the touch and should float to the top of the pot when they are done.
  • Serve the dumplings immediately with your favorite gravy or sauce.

Conclusion:

German bread dumplings are a delicious and versatile dish that can be served with a variety of main courses. They are also a great way to use up leftover bread. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can easily make these dumplings at home.

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