Of course! Hungarian Plum Dumplings (Szilvás gombóc) are a beloved traditional dessert—soft potato dough wrapped around sweet plums, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs. Here’s an authentic, step-by-step recipe just like Hungarian grandmothers make 🍑🇭🇺
🍑 Hungarian Plum Dumplings (Szilvás gombóc)
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
Potato Dough
- 1 kg (2.2 lb) starchy potatoes
- 250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp salt
Filling
- 10–12 Italian plums (firm, not overripe)
- 10–12 sugar cubes or 2–3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Breadcrumb Coating
- 100 g (1 cup) breadcrumbs
- 80 g (6 tbsp) butter
- 1–2 tbsp sugar (optional)
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Potatoes
- Boil potatoes with skins on until tender.
- Peel while hot and mash until smooth.
- Let cool completely (important for soft dough).
2️⃣ Make the Dough
- Mix mashed potatoes with egg and salt.
- Gradually add flour until a soft, non-sticky dough forms.
- Do not overwork—gentle hands keep dumplings fluffy.
3️⃣ Prepare the Plums
- Wash and pit plums (keep whole or halve).
- Fill center with sugar + cinnamon.
4️⃣ Form the Dumplings
- Roll dough on floured surface to ~½ cm thickness.
- Cut into squares.
- Place a plum in the center, wrap dough around it, and seal well.
- Roll gently into balls.
5️⃣ Cook the Dumplings
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil.
- Add dumplings carefully.
- Cook until they float, then simmer 2–3 more minutes.
- Remove with slotted spoon.
6️⃣ Breadcrumb Coating
- Melt butter in a pan.
- Add breadcrumbs and toast until golden.
- Optional: stir in sugar.
- Roll cooked dumplings in breadcrumbs until coated.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm, sprinkled with:
- Extra sugar & cinnamon
- Powdered sugar
- Optional: a spoon of sour cream on the side (traditional in Hungary!)
🇭🇺 Grandma’s Tips
- Use floury potatoes (like Russet).
- Dough too soft? Add flour a tablespoon at a time.
- Dumplings freeze well before cooking.
✨ Why Hungarians Love It
Szilvás gombóc is more than dessert—it’s childhood, autumn harvests, and family kitchens wrapped in one dish.
If you want, I can also share:
- 🔹 A quick modern version
- 🔹 A vegan or egg-free variation
- 🔹 Or apricot (barackos) gombóc, another Hungarian favorite
Just tell me 😊
