How to Make Farmer Cheese Dumplings - A Step-by-Step Guide

Farmer cheese dumplings, also known as vareniki, are a beloved dish in Eastern European cuisine. These soft, pillowy dumplings are filled with a decadent farmer cheese mixture, then boiled to perfection and served with a generous dollop of sour cream or a drizzle of melted butter. They are a comfort food staple that brings warmth and joy to any meal.

The beauty of farmer cheese dumplings lies in their simplicity. With just a handful of basic ingredients, these dumplings are easy to ma...

Read more

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cubed
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • ⅓ cup flour
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 2 celery, diced
  • 1 large carrot, diced
  • ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (Optional)
  • 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
  • ½ cup farmer's cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
  • ⅓ cup self-rising flour
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Information

  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins
  • Servings: 6
  • Yield: 6 dumplings

  • Gather the ingredients.
  • Melt butter in a high saucepan with a lid over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Mix in flour and stir until flour is well mixed in, making a roux, 2 to 3 minutes. You can add more flour if you want a thicker stew.
  • Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the bottom. Add carrots and celery and bring gravy to a simmer. Lower heat to medium-low and maintain a steady simmer. Add thyme leaves and simmer until gravy is slightly reduced and has thickened, about 45 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, make the dumplings: Combine farmer's cheese, egg, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix with a spoon until smooth. Add self-rising flour and mix until a very stiff batter forms.
  • Raise heat to medium and bring gravy back to a steady simmer. Add green onions.
  • Remove 1 heaping tablespoon dumpling batter at a time. Shape with the use of a second tablespoon into oval dumplings and carefully drop into the simmering liquid. You should get a total of 6 dumplings out of this recipe. Dust with cayenne pepper, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low.
  • Simmer and steam dumplings until they are puffed up and cooked through without stirring or peaking, about 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt if necessary.
  • Serve and enjoy!
  • Nutrition

    325 cal.

    • Total Fat: 20g
    • Saturated Fat: 12g
    • Cholesterol: 117mg
    • Sodium: 1730mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 16g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Protein: 20g
    • Potassium: 259mg