Wholesome Cook
Birthday + Entertaining

Sauerkraut and porcini dumplings

I’ve had this sauerkraut sitting in the cupboard for a few months now and it was time to use it up. Too hot to make bigos (sauerkraut, meat and sausage stew that for best results is cooked over 6 hours) but cool enough to enjoy a handful of dumplings. Always a pleasure.

Having said that, sauerkraut is an acquired taste. The lightly stewed kraut tastes a little like caramelised sweet and sour onion, and is a traditional dumpling stuffing for Christmas Eve (pierogi or uszka served with clear borscht). The sweetness of the soup goes really well with the sour and earthy flavours of the dumplings. And they are so much fun to make!

Makes 16 dumplings

Sauerkraut and porcini dumplings

  • 1 packet round gow gee wrappers or Gluten-free Dumpling Skin recipe features in  The Wholesome Cook cookbook.
  • 400g winekraut or sauerkraut
  • 50g dried porcini
  • 1 tbsp white pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin seeds

Soak porcini in half a cup of warm water until soft. Chop into fine pieces using kitchen scissors.

Place sauerkraut, mushrooms with the soaking water and spices in a saucepan. Add extra cup of water and simmer gently for about 30 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the water evaporates. Remove bay leaves and allow to cool before spooning mixture into dough.

To make the dumplings, place 1 heaped teaspoon of the mixture in the middle of the pastry circle, fold dough over and pinch the edges together – brush with a little water to help the edges stick.

Cook dumplings in boiling water for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking together or to the bottom of the pot.

Serve immediately, or chill, store in the fridge and reheat by frying up on both sides. Best enjoyed with a cup of clear borscht soup.

7 comments

Heidi - Apples Under My Bed March 12, 2011 at 7:36 am

yummy, although I’ve never had sauerkraut IN dumplings before! It reminds me of being in Eastern Europe. Your dumplings look spectacular!
Heidi xo

Reply
Wholesome Cook March 12, 2011 at 7:44 am

Thanks Heidi, they are Eastern European. Although there’s usual quarrels over which nation should call it their own: Poland or Russia.

Reply
Suzi Murcko August 9, 2011 at 9:40 am

I have read a few good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to make such a magnificent informative web site.

Reply
5 things to make with Sauerkraut other than a Reuben « Wholesome Cook January 27, 2012 at 12:32 pm

[…] Recipe: Sauerkraut and porcini dumplings […]

Reply
Lyndsey February 7, 2014 at 12:47 pm

I can’t wait to make this recipe!!! I love sauerkraut but find it’s often served with unhealthy foods.
I was wondering if I could make a large batch and freeze them prior to steaming or boiling them? I’m just not sure how the rehydrated porcini will freeze?

Reply
Martyna @ Wholesome Cook February 7, 2014 at 1:20 pm

Hi Lyndsey, yes you can freeze them! The mushrooms and kraut go well when freezing, as does the dough. You may need to cook them for a couple of minutes longer from frozen. Enjoy!

Reply
Ann December 9, 2015 at 3:24 pm

Hi Martyna,
Is the pepper quantity an error? I put in one tbs as per the recipe. It totally overpowered everything, couldn’t taste any other elements. I had to rinse it and add more sauerkraut but it is still incredibly powerful. Perhaps it is meant to be a teaspoon?

Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.