Estonian Curd Cheese Dumplings with Berries
Soft and tender dumplings made from creamy curd cheese, served with a vibrant berry kissel (a fruit soup thickened with starch). This is a delightful and traditional Estonian dessert.
๐ง Ingredients
- 300 g Vanilla curd cream (kohupiim)
- 2 large Eggs
- 0.5 tsp Baking powder
- 2.5 dl Wheat flour
- 15 g Butter(melted)
- 1 pinch Salt(for boiling water)
- 10 dl Summer berries(fresh or frozen)
- 8 dl Water
- 1.5 dl Sugar(or to taste)
- 1.5 tbsp Potato starch
๐จโ๐ณ Instructions
- 1
For the dumplings: In a bowl, mix the vanilla curd cream, eggs, baking powder, wheat flour, and melted butter until a smooth dough forms.
- 2
Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
- 3
Using two teaspoons, form small, teaspoon-sized dumplings and carefully drop them into the boiling water.
- 4
Boil the dumplings until they float to the surface, then continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm.
- 5
For the kissel: In a saucepan, combine the summer berries and water. Bring to a boil and cook until the berries are tender.
- 6
Strain the mixture, discarding the solids, and return the juice to the saucepan. Sweeten the juice with sugar to taste.
- 7
In a small bowl, whisk the potato starch with a few tablespoons of cold water until smooth. Pour this slurry into the hot berry juice while stirring constantly.
- 8
Bring the kissel back to a gentle boil, stirring until it thickens slightly. Do not overcook.
- 9
Serve the warm curd cheese dumplings with the berry kissel.
๐ก Pro Tips
- โEnsure the curd cheese is not too wet; if it is, you can drain some of the liquid.
- โFor a smoother kissel, you can blend the cooked berries before straining.
- โServe the kissel lukewarm, not hot, to best complement the dumplings.
โจ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Use different types of berries or other fruits like apples or rhubarb for the kissel.
- Add a touch of lemon zest to the dumpling dough for extra freshness.
- Serve the dumplings with a dollop of whipped cream or a sprinkle of toasted breadcrumbs.