Polish Kopytka

The polish potato dumplings I´m going to make today are called Kopytka (pronunciation: kowpitkar) which apparently means little hoofs (I didn´t know that until today. I thought they looked like pillows). Most of you know the Italian Gnocchi better, but once you tried these you never want anything else anymore. And I might say that because my grandmother gave me this family recipe, but it is a lot simpler and better than it´s Italian “brother” too.

F.y.i. I´m going to cook for 2 people today :D

Ingredients

 

•  600g (21oz) potatoes
  • 1 egg
• 150g (1 ¼ cups) flour plus a hand full for the kitchen mat
• a pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, minced

Utensils

• a vegetable peeler
• two pots
• a colander
• a potato masher
• a pastry board
• a butter knife
• a skimmer
• a cutting board
• a knife
• a pan
• a plate
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

How to cook Kopytka? 

Step one: Wash your hands ;)

Step two: Boil water in a pot and add a pinch of salt.

Step three: Peel potatoes and cook until they are tender. It depends on the potatoes and your stove, but it takes around 15 minutes.

Step four: Drain the potatoes thru a colander and mash them until there are no lumps.

Step five: Scatter a hand full of flour on the pastry board and place the mashed potatoes on top of it. Wait until the mashed potatoes have reached room temperature.

Step six: Mold a well in the middle so that the cracked egg and flour don´t leak out.

Step seven: Knead the dough while adding the flour little by little until all the ingredients are combined. Only add flour when it´s needed even though it is sticky because this is what makes the Kopytka so fluffy.

 

Step eight: Boil water in a large pot and add a pinch of salt. Slightly roll out the dough so it looks like a snake and is as thick as your thumb. Cut it diagonally into little hoofs (or pillows). 

 Step nine: Drop the Kopytka in the water and wait another 2- 3 minutes from the moment until they float on the surface. Use your skimmer to get them out and put them on a plate until you cooked all of the dumplings.

Step ten: Repeat step eight and nine until you finished the dough. Chop the onion very finely. Heat a pan and add the vegetable oil and minced onion. Roast the Kopytka in the pan and serve.

Enjoy your meal! Smacznego!

P.s.: Maybe you can find someone else who is willing to clean the kitchen ;D