Kynuté Knedlíky S Ovocem (Czech Fruit Dumplings)

Fruit dumplings are an amazingly versatile dish and a popular Czech dish. In Czech homes they are served as either a main course or dessert and can be made a number of different ways. Don’t confuse these fruit dumplings with the dumplings that typically accompany savory Czech dishes – those are made with potatoes and aren’t normally filled.
The dough for these dumplings can vary – some like it with the usual yeast dough, while others make them using tvaroh (a kind of curd cheese). Moreover, the fillings are entire up to personal taste as well – you can fill them with blueberries, apricots, strawberries, or really anything you have on hand.
It’s a fine treat, especially topped with a dollop of melting butter, powdered sugar and finely grated farmer’s cheese. Enjoy them while they last!
Kynuté Knedlíky S Ovocem (Fruit Dumplings)
Ingredients
- 2 cups lukewarm milk
- 2 tsp active dry yeast
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 4 cups semi-coarse flour
- 1 ½ cups semolina
- 1 egg
- 1 pinch of salt
- 2 cups blueberries
- 1/4 cup sugar
- melted butter
- powdered sugar
- farmer’s cheese
Instructions
- If the milk is cold, pour it in a pot and heat it unit it's just lukewarm. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the sugar and stir until dissolved, then add the yeast, mix, and leave aside for 15 minutes in a warm place for the yeast to activate and start to grow.
- Place the eggs, flour, the yeast mixture and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl and combine. Once the mixture starts coming together use your hands to knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it comes off the hands easily.
- Place a pot of hot water at the bottom of the oven and place the dough on the middle rack. Close the oven and leave the dough to rise in the warm and humid environment for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, using a spoon, mix the blueberries (or any fruit of choice: apricots, plums, cherries) with sugar.
- When the dough is done rising, cut it in half and make two cylindrical rolls from each half. and cut each roll into evenly-sized pieces.
- Take each of these pieces and roll them out into a circle using a rolling pin. Place the fruit (using a spoon if necessary) into the middle of the circle, then close it up and roll it between your hands to give it a smooth round shape.
- Place the fruit dumplings in a pot of boiling, slightly salted water and cook them on low heat for 8 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked fruit dumplings onto serving plates, pierce them with a fork to release the steam inside and top with melted butter, farmer's cheese and butter. Enjoy!