Delectable Dumplings – International Comfort Food
by Susan Davis on 02/11/09 at 10:25 am
An international favorite
Mention comfort food, and dishes such as meatloaf or macaroni and cheese come to mind. You might even find homemade apple pie and chocolate chip cookies on the list, along with chicken and dumplings. Dumplings, it seems, are on everyone’s list of comfort foods. They appear in some form or another in almost every culture, just made with slightly different ingredients.
Small piece of dough (either balls or strips), dumplings can be prepared in a number of ways, but the traditional methods are either boiling, simmering or steaming, although they may also be baked or fried. Dumplings are usually made from flour, but potatoes, matzo meal or even bread may be used.
Plain or Fancy
Dumplings can be plain or filled with combinations of meat, vegetables or fruit. They can be sweet or savory, served as an appetizer, in soups, as a main course or for dessert. They can be accompanied by a dipping sauce, be sautéed or pan fried in butter, served with a variety of dressings, such as sour cream, applesauce, tomato or soy sauce, pesto or gravy … the possibilities are endless. It seems that almost every culture has its own version of dumplings and recipes to glorify this favorite comfort food.
Found in cuisines all around the world with names such as matzo balls, wonton, ravioli, pierogi, spaetzle, gnocchi, potstickers and ketupat (to name just a few), dumplings have these things in common: They are filling, comforting, usually low in cost and can be served any time of the day.
American Favorites
America’s two favorite dumpling dishes are probably chicken and dumplings and apple dumplings. Chicken and dumplings have two distinct preparation methods. In the American south, you will find light and airy globs of dough floating on top of a rich and creamy chicken stew. In contrast, the Amish, in Pennsylvania Dutch country, make their dumplings from homemade dough (similar to pasta) that is cooked and combined into a comforting, hearty soup-like casserole. Both versions are yummy, satisfying and definitely comforting.
Apple dumplings are the perfect ending to a casual meal or a fancy dinner. Traditionally served warm with either a dash of heavy cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, cinnamon-spiced apples are wrapped in a buttery dough and baked in the oven until the apple is soft and the dough is crispy. They are definitely decadent and delectable!
Dumplings really are a universal and international comfort food, since you can find some type of dumpling in almost every cuisine. Extremely adaptable, and a great way to incorporate leftovers, they can provide the perfect solution to a quick and simple meal or an elaborate feast.
Here is a sampling of some of the different dumpling dishes that you can find from around the world.
Italy – Tortellini
Sweden - Kroppkaka
Hungary – Galuska
Czech Republic – Knedliky
Poland – Kluski
Russia – Pelmini
Korea – Mandu
Mongolia – Buuz
Jewish – Kreplach
Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken and Flat Dumplings
1 – large (5 pound) washed chicken
1 – large onion, quartered
3 – stalks celery, cut into large chunks
1 – teaspoon whole peppercorn
2 1/2 – teaspoons salt
Place chicken in a 6- to 8-quart stockpot. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to boil. Simmer until chicken is done, about 2 hours.
When cool, remove bones and fat from chicken. Cut into pieces, and return to pot.
Noodles
In a bowl, mix together 2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center, and gradually work 4 eggs into the flour until stiff dough is formed, adding water a little at a time if necessary. Knead until smooth. Divide dough in half. Roll each half as thin as possible then cut into thin 1-2 inch squares.
Bring the broth back to rolling boil. Drop noodle squares one at a time, making sure each are drenched in broth. Reduce heat, cover and continue to cook until noodles are done, about 8 minutes. Don’t peek!
Serve in large bowl and ladle onto plates at the table. Serve with chopped onion.
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