Czech Houskove Knedliky (Bread Dumplings)

About This Recipe

Czech Houskove Knedliky is a real, traditional Czech dish, known as Bread Dumplings. A yeasted bread dough studded with cubed bread, poached whole and sliced, the essential starchy side for nearly every Czech braise.\n\nHouskove knedliky are a foundational component of Czech cuisine, served alongside nearly every major sauced dish like svickova and gulas, their light, spongy texture designed specifically to soak up rich gravies and sauces.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Czech home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 8

• 500 gall-purpose flour
• 7 ginstant yeast
• 1 tspsugar
• 1 tspfine sea salt
• 300 mlwarm milk
• 1egg
• 150 gstale white bread or rolls(cut into small cubes)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the dough

   Mix flour, yeast, sugar and salt, then stir in warm milk and egg until a soft dough forms. Knead for 8 minutes until smooth.

2. 2

   Fold in bread cubes

   Gently fold the cubed stale bread into the dough.

3. 3

   Rise

   Cover and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.

4. 4

   Shape

   Divide the dough into two logs, each about 20 cm long, and let rise again for 15 minutes.

5. 5

   Poach

   Gently lower the logs into a large pot of barely simmering water, cover, and poach for 20 to 25 minutes, turning once halfway through, until cooked through.

6. 6

   Slice and serve

   Remove, pierce with a fork or thread to release steam, and slice with a piece of thread or a serrated knife into rounds. Serve immediately alongside a saucy main dish.

Variations

• •

  A potato dumpling version replaces some of the flour with mashed potato for a denser, different texture.

• •

  Some households add caraway seeds to the dough for extra flavor.

• •

  Serve alongside svickova, gulas or any other richly sauced Czech dish.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions