Bread dumplings (knedle) are very much loved throughout Croatia. It’s just one of those dishes that reminds you of Sunday lunches at grandma’s house and that evokes childhood memories. With very few ingredients and steps involved, these are really easy to make.
Simple and humble, delicious, these dumplings are typical components of Central European cuisine and come in different forms. Most common are the round ones, but I decided to make a roulade, which you then cut into slices. In most versions, they are used as a side dish for meat stews (especially game) and are served with sauces. If you shape the mixture into balls, make sure you wet your hands, as you don’t want it to stick, and it will allow you to form nice, smooth dumpling balls. I shaped mine like a loaf of bread, which is then boiled in a napkin. The mixture consists of bread, parsley, some spices, milk, eggs, onion and bacon. 
Bread dumplings
- Total Time: 70 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These Croatian bread dumplings are a comforting side dish, perfect for pairing with hearty meat stews and rich sauces.
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz (300 g) white bread
- 0.7 oz (20 g) bacon
- 1 oz (30 g) butter
- 1 small onion, finely sliced
- 0.8 cup (200 ml) milk
- 2 eggs
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- A bit of nutmeg
- A bit of breadcrumbs
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cut the bread into cubes. Heat the butter in a skillet over low heat, add the bread cubes, and fry for 10 minutes until they are golden brown.
- In a separate skillet, fry the bacon cut into small cubes until crispy. Add the finely sliced onion and cook until the onion is soft and translucent.
- In a large bowl, combine the fried bread cubes, bacon, and onion. Add the milk, eggs, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and chopped parsley. Mix everything well until the bread absorbs the liquid.
- Shape the mixture into a loaf. Wrap it in a clean kitchen towel and tie the ends securely.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Place the wrapped loaf into the pot and simmer for 30-40 minutes.
- Remove the loaf from the water, unwrap, and let it cool slightly. Slice into rounds and serve as a side dish with your favorite meat stew or sauce.
Notes
Wet your hands when shaping the dumplings to prevent sticking. These dumplings are traditionally served with meat stews or rich sauces. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheat before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Croatian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 85
