Polish Potato Dumplings (Kopytka) Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2024)

FAQs

What are Poland's dumplings called? ›

Pierogi (Polish Dumplings)

The typical ingredients are boiled potatoes and flour, but may also include eggs, salt, and other seasoning. The Polish dish is usually cooked in salted water, whereas in Belarusian and Lithuanian cuisines kapytki is baked first, then stewed or boiled in water. Kopytka can be either a main dish or served on the side.

If your potato dumplings are gummy, it is likely the potatoes were overworked, or the dough was overmixed.

This is a sensitive recipe, so it's important to use a kitchen scale to measure out 24 ounces (1 1⁄2 pounds) of riced potatoes. If you use too much potato, the mixture might not bind properly and the dumplings may fall apart; if you use too little potato, the dumplings will be too heavy with flour and egg.

Kopytka (i.e. 'little hooves') are cousins of the Italian gnocchi. They are made with boiled mashed potatoes and a little bit of wheat flour. The dough is rolled and cut into diamond-shaped kluski, which are boiled and sometimes also fried to make the outside crispy.

Unlike pierogi, which are made with flour, eggs, water, and salt, the dough for these kopytka dumplings includes mashed potatoes. Although potatoes are a staple in Polish cuisine today, they took a while to catch on when they arrived in the country during the 18th century.

Kopytka is pronounced koh-pit-kah, you can listen here how to pronounce this word. Kopytka vs Gnocchi: Kopytka are very similar to Italian gnocchi – the recipe is basically the same, but the shape of the dumplings and what they are served with are different.

There are so many different types of Polish kluski (dumplings): pierogi, pierogi leniwe (lazy pierogi), kluski śląskie, kopytka, pyzy ziemniaczane, knedle, cepeliny, kartacze, etc. These are only types, we are not even talking about stuffing. Most of them use flour, eggs, and potatoes.

Other sources theorize that in the 13th century, pierogi were brought by Saint Hyacinth of Poland from the Far East (Asia) via what was then the Kievan Rus'. These became characteristic to Central and East European cuisines, where different varieties (preparation methods, ingredients, fillings) were invented.

Overworking the mixture, thus having heavy dumplings is a common mistake people make. Dumplings need very gentle handling, so mix only until the ingredients are just combined, and if your recipe involves rolling them out with extra flour, avoid using too much.

Why are my dumplings not crispy? ›

This is a very common problem when pan frying dumplings, and most likely it is because your pan isn't hot enough. The easiest trick would be to buy a nonstick pan, but for those who don't want to spend the money, try out this test. To make sure your pan is at the correct temperature, try the water droplet test.

Don't Overwork the Dumpling Dough

Stir everything together until the wet and dry ingredients are combined and you don't see any more dry flour. The dough might look a little lumpy, but that's okay! Overworking the dough is one of the easiest ways to end up with tough dumplings.

These pierogi are filled with cheese, potatoes, and mushrooms, but you can stuff them with other fillings to your liking. There are many ways to serve pierogi. Try them topped with fried onions and parsley, or serve them with sour cream, melted butter, and fried bacon.

Once water reaches a rolling boil, gently add each dumpling and continue to boil until the dumplings float. Remove the dumplings from the water using a slotted spoon or strainer spoon and place in serving dish. Best served hot with gravy or sauerkraut. Dumplings also make one of the best leftover breakfast items ever!

Pierogi (Eastern European filled dumplings)

The dumplings are one of the most widely known and recognized polish dishes around the world. They're made of the fluffy cake which is formed as small crescents. They can be stuffed with various toppings which are similar to other world-famous dumplings such as Japanese gyoza or Italian ravioli.

Bigos stew is the national dish of Poland. It can be made with any kind of meat from pork to rabbit or venison, but should always have spicy Polish sausage.