Austrian apricot dumplings: A royal treat loved by emperors

We've likely mentioned more than once that the most straightforward solutions are the best. A perfect example is fruit dumplings, which can be made with closed eyes. In Austria, apricot dumplings are famous and were reportedly praised by the emperor.

Dumplings are not only eaten in Austria or Germany. Don't you have an idea of what to do with them? Prepare a dish that even the emperor would be proud of.

Apricot dumplings, known as Marillenknödel, are a popular dish in Austrian cuisine. They are trendy in areas with common apricot orchards, such as Wachau in Lower Austria. Small dumplings are formed from curd dough or potato dough and inside are hollowed apricots or mirabelles. The dumplings are cooked in lightly salted water and sprinkled with crispy fried breadcrumbs and powdered sugar.

Apricot dumplings were among the dishes favoured by Ferdinand I of Habsburg-Lorraine (known as the Benevolent), the Austrian emperor from 1835-1848. Allegedly, when he ordered Marillenknödel out of apricot season and was informed of this, he replied to the chef: "I am the emperor and I want dumplings!". It’s worth noting that Ferdinand I is attributed with many colourful quotes, although some have never been verified. However, one could theorize that since the quote about apricot dumplings exists, these dumplings must have had significance in the imperial kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 250 grams of semi-fat curd
• 2 teaspoons of oil
• 1 egg
• A pinch of salt
• 250 grams of flour
• 16 apricots
• Sugar or any sweetener
• 5-6 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
• 45 grams of butter

Preparation:

1. You can pass the curd through a meat grinder beforehand, but this is not necessary.
2. Knead a smooth dough from the curd, flour, oil, egg, and pinch of salt.
3. Remove the pits from the apricots without splitting the halves completely. You can place a sugar cube or just a bit of any sweetener inside the apricots for a less sweet version.
4. Divide the dough prepared for the dumplings into 16 parts.
5. Using hands sprinkled with flour, gently flatten each piece of dough into a disc and wrap it carefully around each fruit.
6. Drop the prepared dumplings into boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes after they float up, on low heat (in vigorously boiling water, apricot dumplings may fall apart).
7. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan and fry the breadcrumbs and the sugar in it optionally.
8. Treat the ready dumplings with the prepared breadcrumbs.