Potato Dumplings with Feta Cheese

A few months before I started writing this little blog I found "Potato Ho Down" challenge started by Cathy of Noble Pig. And since I love potatoes in any possible form - fries (my #1 choice especially if served with a side of brown gravy), mashed, baked, roasted, gnocchi, and of course these dumplings that are the national dish of Slovakia (where I was born), entering a recipe in the challenge just seemed natural.

Slovakia is a spud country. Almost all of the traditional dishes include potatoes in a one way or the other, so I have plenty more recipes for the future Potato Ho Downs...

These dumplings are pretty easy and the whole dish comes together within 30 minutes or so. Traditionally it's made with a different kind of sheep cheese - bryndza - but that proved to be pretty darn difficult to find here in Oregon. Luckily, feta cheese is a wonderful substitute (I'm so glad because it would be hard to imagine my life without these dumplings).

 

Potato Dumplings with Feta Cheese

(Bryndzove Halusky)

 

2.5 lbs Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

1 egg

2 - 3 cups of flour (I never really measure it as I go by the rule my Mom taught me - mix in enough flour, so the wooden spoon will stand on its own - it works every time)

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 lb feta

1/2 cup milk

6 slices of bacon, chopped

chives, chopped

 

Start of with bringing a big pot of salted water to a boil. In a food processor or a blender puree the potatoes and the egg (you might have to do this in 2 batches). Pour in a big mixing bowl, add salt & pepper. Mix in the flour (the more flour you use the firmer the dumplings are going to be and the lesser chance they will fall apart during boiling; start off with about 2 cups and add more as needed - like I mentioned before, my Mom always said that the wooden spoon should stand up on its own).

 

 

Now get the cheese mixture ready... In pot or a bowl, crumble up the feta cheese and mix it with the 1/2 cup of milk, smashing it with a fork to combine. You still want it to be to be a little chunky.

When the water is boiling you're ready to make the dumplings. Now, in Slovakia we have an actual gadget that makes the whole dumpling-making process a little easier (a sort of a sieve with big holes) but since I keep on forgetting to ask my parents to send me one, I use a method my grandmother taught me - put a couple of scoops of the potato mixture on the edge of a small-ish cutting board, set it over the pot of boiling water and with a spoon pull of little chunks straight into the water. It's easier when you dunk the spoon into the boiling water every once in a while and also don't forget to stir in the dumplings every so often, so they don't stick to the bottom. Continue until all of the potato mixture is gone...

When the dumplings are done they will float to the top, I usually give them another minute or so after that. Scoop up the dumplings, let them drain a little bit and add them to the feta cheese mixture. Don't stir it at this point (I don't know why not but my Mom did it this way).

Fry up the bacon pieces and pour everything (fat too) onto the dumplings. Add the chives. Now you can stir it. Taste for salt and pepper (feta is pretty salty so you should be ok) and enjoy.

Please let me know if you try these, I really would like to know how you like them.

 

 

 

Comments

[noble pig]

Thank you so much for participating! You did everything right and these dumplings sound absolutely unreal!

[Mary]

What a wonderful treat! I love your recipe.

[Jane]

I saw your dish on Noble Pig's coverage of the Potato Ho Down. It caught my eye when you said they were a traditional dish of Slovakia--that's my heritage on my Dad's side. We were not raised to be very knowledgeable about the culture, unfortunately, so your recipe notes are great! I plan to try this dish very soon, maybe even for my Dad!

[Lindsay]

In an ideal world I would LOVE to hire you to come and cook dinner for us every night! You're cooking skills are awesome and the food is even better! I'm going to try making some of these dishes that you're posting. You've inspired me!

[BigSis]

Beautiful dish! Potatoes with feta? That HAS to be delicious!