Sourdough Dumplings (Quick & Easy Discard Recipe) - Hopewell Heights (2024)

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This quick & easy sourdough dumplings recipe made with sourdough discard is the perfect addition to any dumpling soup, especially bone broth chicken soup which is the ultimate comfort food and a favorite hearty meal in my home!

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When it comes to homemade dumplings, I’m team biscuit dumplings all the way. Noodle dumplings are good, don’t get me wrong. But you just can’t beat fluffy, buttery, biscuit dumplings, in my opinion.

Especially these sourdough discard dumplings which are a great way to use up extra starter or even cold ferment your dumplings for a few days to get some of that tangy sourdough flavor.

These dumplings are so quick and easy, that they’re a staple in wintertime soups around here. A big bowl of soup with pillowy dumplings is such a comforting meal in the cooler months of the year Sometimes I double or triple the batch and freeze the extra for a quick partially prepped meal add-in during busy seasons. As I write this, baby number five’s arrival is getting closer and I need to think about food prepping. Making and freezing a huge batch of these easy sourdough dumplings is definitely on my to-do list.

This is my absolute favorite soup to add these dumplings to – homemade chicken and dumpling soup!

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Why You’ll Love this Sourdough Dumplings Recipe

  • This recipe is just a modification of my favorite biscuit recipe. This biscuit recipe is so versatile, it can be used in a number of recipes. So, if you like these dumplings – try cutting the dough into biscuits and baking them instead!
  • These dumplings are not at all gummy or doughy. They cook so well when added to a large pot of soup and turn out pillowy and buttery every time.
  • This recipe can be used for drop dumplings too. Just mix the dough ingredients in a large mixing bowl and drop a tablespoon of dumpling dough in a large soup pot full of soup that’s boiling at medium-high heat.
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Spend a late fall day cooking from scratch with me in my homestead kitchen. I’ll show you what we eat in a day, which includes chicken dumpling soup made with these easy sourdough dumplings.

What You’ll Need

Dumpling Dough Ingredients

1 1/4 cup flour = 155 grams

1/2 teaspoon sea salt = 3 grams

1 teaspoon sugar = 4 grams

2 teaspoons baking powder = 8 grams

6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed or grated = 85 grams

1/2 cup sourdough starter = 120 grams

1 egg = 50 grams

1/4 cup milk = 60 grams

Tools

Large Mixing Bowl

Rolling Pin

Bench Scraper

Pizza Wheel

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Sourdough Dumplings

Mix the dry ingredients. Add flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder to a large bowl and whisk to combine.

Add cold, grated/cubed butter and cut into the flour mixture with a fork.

Add the egg, sourdough starter, and milk to the bowl and stir with a spoon until the dough is shaggy.

Do not knead. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and fold the dough a few times to work all the flour in.

Roll the dough out into a square so it’s about 1/4” thick. Use a pizza cutter or bench scraper to cut the dumplings to be 1/2” x 1/2”.

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Add to your favorite soup that’s boiling at medium heat to medium-high heat immediately or save for later use.

FAQ

  • What is sourdough?
    • Sourdough is a type of dough made using wild yeast for fermentation and leavening. A sourdough starter is needed to make sourdough recipes. Sourdough discard is inactive sourdough starter. When sourdough discard is used in a recipe, an additional leavening agent such as commercial yeast or baking powder must be used as well.
  • How do I make a sourdough starter?
    • To make a sourdough starter, mix equal parts water and flour in a jar, cover with a loose fitting lid, and allow to ferment at room temp for 24 hours. Discard half of the mixture after the 24 hours is up, “feed” the starter equal parts water and flour, cover with a loose fitting lid, and allow to ferment at room temp for 24 hours. Repeat this process of discarding, feeding, and fermenting for 1-2 weeks and you will have a mature sourdough starter ready to bake with. See my detailed blog posts onhow to make and maintain a sourdough starter.
  • How long does it take to make sourdough dumplings?
    • Since this is a discard recipe, these sourdough dumplings are quick & easy and only take 10 minutes to make plus an additional 15-20 minutes to cook once added to your favorite dumpling soup in a large soup pot.
  • Can I use all-purpose flour to make sourdough dumplings?
    • Yes. This recipe works well with all-purpose flour. Any high-quality flour will work well in this recipe, just adjust and add less flour when using whole grains.
  • Can I long-ferment sourdough dumplings?
    • These dumplings can be cold-proofed in the fridge overnight or for a few days. Just wrap the dough ball in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to roll and cut it into dumplings.
  • Can I freeze sourdough dumplings?
    • Yes, sourdough dumplings can be frozen before cooking. To freeze, toss the dumplings in 2T flour so they are well coated and do not stick together. Spread evenly on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze for 6 hours. After the dumplings are frozen, seal them in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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Tips for making homemade dumplings

  • Use very cold butter and work quickly when mixing, rolling, and cutting the biscuit dough so the butter doesn’t melt. This will result in more pillowy dumplings.
  • Add some herbs and black pepper to your dumpling dough when mixing the dry ingredients for extra flavor.
  • Add these easy sourdough dumplings to homemade chicken soup made from a whole chicken for a rich, flavorful, hearty meal.

Storage

These sourdough discard dumplings can be stored in the fridge for 5-7 days in an airtight container. They can also be frozen. To freeze, toss the dumplings in 2T flour so they are well coated and do not stick together. Spread evenly on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze for 6 hours. After the dumplings are frozen, seal them in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Sourdough Dumplings (Quick & Easy Discard Recipe) - Hopewell Heights (6)

Sourdough Dumplings (Quick & Easy Discard Recipe)

Yield: 4 cups sourdough dumplings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

sourdough dumplings made with sourdough discard are a quick & easy way to make your favorite soup the ultimate comfort food!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup flour = 155 grams
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt = 3 grams
  • 1 teaspoon sugar = 4 grams
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder = 8 grams
  • 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed or grated = 85 grams
  • 1/2 cup sourdough starter discard = 120 grams
  • 1 egg = 50 grams
  • 1/4 cup milk = 60 grams

Instructions

  1. Combine flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
  1. Add cold, grated/cubed butter and cut into the flour mixture with a fork.
  2. Add the egg, sourdough starter, and milk to the bowl and stir with a spoon until the dough ball is shaggy.
  3. Do not knead. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and fold the dough a few times to work all the flour in.
  4. Roll the dough out into a square so it’s about 1/4” thick. Use a pizza cutter or bench scraper to cut the dumplings to be 1/2” x 1/2”.
  5. Add to a large pot of boiling soup immediately on medium heat to medium-high heat or save for later use. 15 minutes after you add the dumplings to the soup, use a soup spoon to lift a couple of dumplings out of the pot and test them with a fork to make sure they are done. If not, turn the dumpling soup down to low heat, wait 5 minutes, and check again.

Notes

These sourdough discard dumplings can be frozen. To freeze, toss the dumplings in 2T flour in a medium bowl so they are well coated and do not stick together. Spread evenly on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze for 6 hours. After the dumplings are frozen, seal them in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 189Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 333mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g

Did you make this recipe?

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Sourdough Dumplings (Quick & Easy Discard Recipe) - Hopewell Heights (2024)

FAQs

Why are my drop dumplings not fluffy? ›

The trickiest part of the dumplings remaining fluffy lies with the cooking time. If the dumplings are cooked for too long, then they will become hard. If they are cooked and allowed to remain in the heated environment – in the hot liquid or covered in the hot pot, then the dumpling will contract and get hard.

Do you cook dumplings with lid on or lid off? ›

Once your water is boiling, let your dumplings cook in the steam for about ten minutes. Don't remove the lid as letting the steam escape will disrupt the cooking process and result in undercooked dumplings, so keep that lid on!

How do you boil dumplings without them falling apart? ›

Here are some additional tips:
  1. Use a large pot or saucepan. This will give the dumplings enough room to cook without crowding each other.
  2. Add a tablespoon of oil or broth to the cooking liquid. ...
  3. Gently stir the dumplings once or twice while they are cooking. ...
  4. Do not overcook the dumplings.
Mar 20, 2023

Why do my chicken and dumplings fall apart? ›

⭐️ The most important tip: Keep the pot at a gentle simmer when cooking the dumplings. An aggressive simmer or boiling will break them apart. Keep the heat low and keep your pot covered so that they steam.

Should dumplings float or sink? ›

The dumplings will be completely cooked and ready when they float on the surface of the boiling water.

How do you know when drop dumplings are done? ›

To make sure a dumpling is done cooking, pierce it with a fork or toothpick. You'll know it's done when the fork or toothpick comes out clean.

How do you make dumplings taste better? ›

A little citrus zest also makes a great addition. Lemon zest is a good all-rounder, but orange would also work well, particularly for lamb or beef stews. A little mustard or horseradish will also add a hit of extra flavour to your dumplings – not too much though, as they also add moisture.

Why do my dumplings come out hard? ›

Overcooking: If you leave the dumplings in the water or broth for too long, they can become overcooked and tough. Be sure to follow the cooking time recommended in your recipe, and check the dumplings regularly to make sure they are not overcooked.

What is the easiest way to cook dumplings? ›

The Two Easiest Ways to Cook: Boiling and Steaming

To boil dumplings, fill a large pot two-thirds of the way with water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add as many dumplings as can fit comfortably in a single layer in the pot and cook them until they float. Let them cook an additional two to three minutes.

Why did my homemade dumplings fall apart? ›

Homemade dumplings can fall apart for a number of different reasons, or any combination of them. Often they burst during cooking because they have too much filling for the amount of dough. Some doughs are too dry, so the dumplings won't stay sealed. Others can be too wet and sticky and end up tearing.

Why do you add cold water to boiling dumplings? ›

Most likely contents of the dumplings are inside is still raw so you add the cold water to slow down the cooking process of the dough so it doesn't break apart while allowing the filler to finish cooking.

How to keep dumplings from sticking together for chicken and dumplings? ›

If they are homemade fresh dumplings, just as making breads, a few pitches of flour or corn powder will prevent them to stick together. If those are frozen dumplings, don't use hot water to boil them, out the dumplings in a pot of cold water and then heating them up, then they won't stick.

How do you tell if dumplings are done in chicken and dumplings? ›

Set a timer for 15 minutes, don't lift the lid during this time, the dumplings need to steam. Open the lid and insert a toothpick into the middle of a dumpling to check for doneness. If it comes out clean, it's ready. If not, cover and simmer for a few more minutes.

Why do my chicken and dumplings taste like flour? ›

If your dumplings taste like flour, that means the flour hasn't been cooked thoroughly. David Mowbray is right -- You need a new recipe! Do I add flour even if my batter tastes like flour?

Why did my dumplings come out dense? ›

Tips for Making Fluffy Dumplings

Just don't eat them. Don't over-mix. Just like any dough, if you over-mix it can result in dense, overworked dough, so just combine until the sticky dough has been formed. Stir occasionally.

Why are my drop dumplings dense? ›

Overworking the mixture, thus having heavy dumplings is a common mistake people make. Dumplings need very gentle handling, so mix only until the ingredients are just combined, and if your recipe involves rolling them out with extra flour, avoid using too much.

Why are my drop dumplings mushy? ›

Be sure the liquid is hot before you add the dumpling dough. You can tell if the temperature is hot enough when the liquid is gently boiling with bubbles breaking on the surface. If you add the dough before the liquid is hot enough, the dumplings will end up soggy and undercooked.

What happens if dumplings are too wet? ›

Make sure your filling is not too wet, as excessive moisture will increase the chance of the wrapper breaking. Remove as much liquid from vegetables as possible before adding to the mix.

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