Croatian plum dumplings - knedle s sljivama - are made with a mashed potato dough and can be eaten as a dessert when sprinkled with sugar, as a meatless main course or as a starch accompanying a meat dish. Plum dumplings are common throughout Eastern Europe among Poles, Hungarians, Romanians and wherever plums are plentiful. The small, Italian prune plum works best.
View this larger image of Croatian Plum Dumplings.
Makes 16 Croatian Plum Dumplings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled, boiled, mashed and cooled
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 16 Italian prune plums, washed and pitted
- 16 sugar cubes
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- Granulated or confectioners' sugar
- Cinnamon, optional
Preparation:
- In a large bowl, combine potatoes, eggs and salt. When well combined, add flour and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Place a sugar cube in the center of each pitted plum. Place a large pot of salted water on to boil.
- Using lightly floured hands, take a portion of dough and pat it flat in your hand. Place a plum in the center and bring sides of dough up over plum, enclosing it completely. Moisten edges if necessary to seal. Carefully drop into boiling water. Repeat until all plums are in the water. Cook 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in small skillet, add bread crumbs and brown. Using a slotted spoon, remove dumplings to a colander. Transfer to a serving platter and pour buttered crumbs over dumplings. Dust with granulated or confectioners' sugar and cinammon, if desired.
