Experience Authentic Bavarian Cuisine: Delicious Sivis Semmelknödel Recipe - The Perfect German Bread Dumplings

Originally from the beautiful region of Bavaria in Germany, Sivis Semmelknödel, or bread dumplings, are comforting, hearty, and perfect alongside a variety of German dishes. Traditionally, this beloved dish is an excellent way to use up stale bread, and it forms a key part of many comforting winter meals. Today, we'll learn how to prepare Sivis Semmelknödel right at your home.

Ingredients:

4 stale bread rolls (Semmeln) or approximately 200g of stale bread
200ml of milk
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of butter
2 eggs
1 bunch of fresh parsley, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Nutmeg to taste
1 cup of flour (optional, if dough is too wet)

Preparation:

Prepare the Base: First, cut the stale bread into small cube-like pieces and place them in a large bowl. Warm the milk just until it's warm to the touch, then pour it over the bread and let it soak for about 20 minutes. In the meantime, sauté the finely chopped onion in butter until it is translucent and soft. Add the onions, eggs, and finely chopped parsley to the bread mixture. Season it with salt, pepper, and a hint of nutmeg, then gently mix all ingredients until well combined. If the dough is too wet, you can add some flour to achieve the desired consistency. Let the dough rest for about 15 minutes. Then, with wet hands, form approximately 8 dumplings from the mixture.
Cook the Dumplings: Prepare a large pot of salted, simmering water. Once the water is ready, carefully place the dumplings into the simmering water. Let them cook for about 20 minutes, ensuring they don't come to a rolling boil as this can cause the dumplings to fall apart. Once cooked, carefully remove with a slotted spoon and let them drain.
Serve and Garnish: Serve the dumplings hot as a side dish for hearty meats, stews, or thick sauces. They are especially delicious with dishes like Sauerbraten or any roast. Garnish with some additional chopped parsley if desired.

Tip:

If your dumplings aren’t holding together well when forming them, don't hesitate to add more soaked bread or some flour to make it easier to shape. Remember, it's better for the dough to be slightly too sticky than too dry to get the ideal texture.