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These dumplings are from Alsace in north-east France. They featured in Keith Floyd's Floyd On France series.
Prep
The cured pork fat might be hard to find - I actually used Polish bacon - this has a very high percentage of fat and worked really well.
Finely dice the onion, mince the garlic, finely chop the liver and the cured pork belly. Beat the eggs together. Cut the crusts off the bread and soak it in milk for a few minutes.
Pre-cook the Alliums
Melt a generous knob of butter in a frying pan and gently sauté the onion for about five minutes until it's translucent but not browned. Add the garlic and cook for a further two minutes, then empty the pan onto a plate and allow to cool completely.
Make the Dumpling Mixture
In a food processor or blender, purée all of the dumpling ingredients. Don't forget to squeeze the milk out of the bread before you add it.
Cook the Dumplings
Bring a large frying pan full of water to a simmer. Take a dessert spoon, dip it in the water then use it to pick up a spoonful of the dumpling mixture. Slide the dumpling into the water. Wipe the spoon or use a fresh one to make more quenelles. The dumplings need to cook for about ten minutes.
Make the Sauce
Peel and finely chop the shallot. Sauté it in butter until translucent - about five minutes. Add the wine and cook rapidly to reduce it to almost nothing. Pour in the beef stock, cook for about five minutes then melt in the knob of butter. Just before serving add a tablespoon of white wine.
Serve
Pour sauce over the dumplings, garnish with chopped tomato and chives, serve with boiled new potatoes and choucroute.
DUMPLINGS 200 grams pork liver 100 grams cured pork fat 1 medium onion 2 slices white bread 40 grams bread flour or semolina flour 1-2 cloves garlic small handful flatleaf parsley small handful fresh tarragon or chervil 2 eggs a grating of nutmeg salt and pepper to taste SAUCE 1 shallot 1 glass white wine 125 ml beef stock
PLUS
Vast quantities of butter
Makes 8 -12 dumplings Prep time: 15 minutes. Cooking time: 15 minutes. Total time: 30 minutes.