Plum Dumplings

I finally got to make the plum dumplings recipe. I've been planning it for so long and now its time has come. I managed to find moderately small plums and all the "stars" aligned, children wise and home wise, so I had time to work on the recipe.

We all liked them, so I highly recommend. You can use other fruits when it's not plum season. I was a little skeptical about the dough, but I couldn't feel at all the potato taste and texture, only that it was fine and tender.

Next time I'll cook them, I'll cut the fruit into quarters to make single bites. This way, the taste of plum wrapped in dough and coated with flavored breadcrumbs will feel more like a whole.

Ingredients
Mashed potatoes
500 g
see step 1
White flour
125 g
+ a little more when working the dough
Egg
1 piece
Sunflower oil
0.5 tbsp
Plums
1 kg
choose plums as small as possible, mine were medium
Sugar
9 tbsp
Cinnamon powder
1 tsp
Butter
50 g
Bread crumbs
150 g
Step by step
Step 1

You can make mashed potatoes in several ways. The best way would be baking the potatoes, then carving out the flesh.

Or even simpler, I boiled the potatoes without the skin. As soon as they were done, I drained and mashed them, hot as they were.

Let it cool. This can be done 1-2 days before and kept in the fridge.

Plum Dumplings - Step 1
Step 2

Prepare the plums. Wash well, cut to the core with a knife and carefully remove the pits.

If the plums are small, leave them whole. If they are bigger, cut them into medium-sized pieces.

Plum Dumplings - Step 2
Step 3

Sprinkle with three tablespoons of sugar over the plums and one teaspoon of cinnamon, set aside.

Plum Dumplings - Step 3
Step 4

Now, melt the butter in a saucepan, add the breadcrumbs and mix periodically until nicely browned.

Plum Dumplings - Step 4
Step 5

When it's browned, turn off the heat. Add sugar and, optionally, vanilla  essence, powder or seeds.

Plum Dumplings - Step 5
Step 6

Now we start to make the dumpling dough.

I actually measured 500g of mashed potatoes. I used the leftovers as a garnish for another meal.

Put the egg and oil over the potatoes and a little salt.

Plum Dumplings - Step 6
Step 7

Add the flour and mix well with your hands. You'll get a rather sticky and soft dough, but don't add any more flour, if you want your dumplings to be tender.

Plum Dumplings - Step 7
Step 8

Turn the dough out onto the table dusted with flour and knead a little until smooth. Sprinkle with some flour so that it won't stick to the table.

Plum Dumplings - Step 8
Step 9

Cut into medium pieces, about the size of a walnut. Here, it depends on the size of your plums, if they are whole or pieces.

You'll see how big the dough pieces should be when you start to shape the dumplings (you can even make a sample).

Plum Dumplings - Step 9
Step 10

Sprinkle with some flour on your hands. Take a piece of dough and flatten it out between your palms.

If the plum is whole, place it cut side down and cover it completely with the dough by gluing the edges together.

Plum Dumplings - Step 10
Step 11

Something like this. Even it out in your palm so that it looks like a smooth ball.

Plum Dumplings - Step 11
Step 12

Out of these quantities, I made 18 medium-sized dumplings. I arranged them on the floured table.

Plum Dumplings - Step 12
Step 13

Place over heat a pot half filled with water (you can do this while shaping the dumplings).

When it comes to the boil, add three tablespoons of sugar, if you want the dumplings to be sweeter.

Plum Dumplings - Step 13
Step 14

When the water comes to the boil, turn down the heat and sink the dumplings in.

At first, they will go to the bottom, then rise to the surface. If they stick to the bottom of the pot, shake it lightly or peel them off carefully with a spatula.

Let simmer for 10-15 minutes, depending on how well cooked you want the plums to be. You can leave them for 5 minutes, but the plums will be a little raw.

I boiled the dumplings in two batches, nine at a time, in a five liter pot. 

Plum Dumplings - Step 14
Step 15

After they have boiled, place them straight in the pan with the breadcrumbs and coat on all sides.

Plum Dumplings - Step 15
Step 16

Serve the dumplings hot or cold. I liked them better when they were cold, but this depends on your tastes.

Enjoy!

Plum Dumplings - Step 16
Quantity: 700 g (18-20 pieces)
Prep time:
30 min
Difficulty: intermediate
Ready in: 120 min