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Italian Cheese Dumplings

- SERVES
- 6
- COOK TIME
- 45 Min
If you're looking to add something new to your Italian menu, then you've gotta make our Italian Cheese Dumplings. This extra cheesy and super easy Italian recipe is a jaw-dropper your guests will love!
What You'll Need
- 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 stick butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
What to Do
- In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, egg yolk, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix well. Add 1 cup flour and stir just until combined and mixture forms a ball. (Mixture will be soft.)
- Dust baking sheets with flour. Drop a teaspoonful of dough onto baking sheet in an oval shape. Repeat with remaining dough. (You will get approximately 60.) Lightly dust with more flour.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, drop about 15 dough balls. When dough rises to top of water, cook another 4 minutes, or until no longer gummy in center. Using a slotted spoon, remove dumplings to a bowl. Repeat with remaining dough balls until all are cooked.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add dumplings, parsley, garlic, and remaining salt and pepper. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, or until dumplings start to brown, stirring occasionally. Serve immediately.
Mr. Food Test Kitchen Tips!
- We like to serve these with extra Parmesan cheese and, if you want, a great marinara sauce! You can also make a cool and crunchy Caesar salad to complete your delicious Italian meal.
- Want more ways to top this dumpling recipe? Try our Oven-Roasted Tomatoes, or Farm Style Pasta Sauce, or our Fresh Pesto Sauce!
- For more excellent pasta recipes, try our Slow Cooker Baked Ziti, or our Noodle Carbonara.
Rachel
Jun 01, 2018
These Italian cheese dumplings are delicious. Thank you Mr. Food Test Kitchen for this wonderful recipe. This is real Italian comfort food! Rachel
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lmp1958 5903799
Jun 01, 2018
Dear Janny You apparently did not read Step 3 about boiling the dumplings and Step 4 about pan frying the boiled dumplings. Dumplings are always cooked wet. Never baked unless after boiling.
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janny
Jun 01, 2018
Hi, Italian Grandma cheese dumplings do not have baking directions, oven temp, time to bake. Dust baking sheets with flour. Drop a teaspoonful of dough onto baking sheet in an oval shape. Repeat with remaining dough. (You will get approximately 60.) Lightly dust with more flour.
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Test Kitchen Team
Jun 01, 2018
Hi Janny! These aren't baked. Step three gives the proper next step directions: In a large pot of boiling salted water, drop about 15 dough balls. When dough rises to top of water, cook another 4 minutes, or until no longer gummy in center. Using a slotted spoon, remove dumplings to a bowl. Repeat with remaining dough balls until all are cooked.
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Moopsee
Jan 25, 2016
I found it a bit soggy in the middle no matter what I tried. Tried making them smaller and that helped. Added a bit extra parm and a few tbsp more of flour. I think the difference in moisture with ricotta makes a huge difference. Once they are fried they tighten up quite a bit. Before, soggy blops of "dumpling" and that was not easy at all to work with. Don't double this. Tried that too. You'll be in the kitchen boiling and frying. I wouldn't deep fry unless after having been boiled and then set to dry some first. Otherwise a wet mess with fat splattering everywhere. Once toasted up by frying, the flavor is way better than pre-frying. We found eating solo is good, but adding some marinara and meatballs really go great with these. We found that sprinkling a bit of parm on it was enjoyed.
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aikman5001 7658088
Jan 22, 2016
Can you use almond flour instead. Can you use almond flour instead? And how much?
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Test Kitchen Team
Jan 25, 2016
We haven't tried making these dumplings with almond flour, and we're not sure if it would work. If you do decide to give it a try we'd love to hear how they turn out!
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GinaMT17
Oct 11, 2015
Does this call for fresh Parmesan or the kind in the can?
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Test Kitchen Team
Oct 12, 2015
Hello! - Either the canned Parmesan or the freshly grated kind will work. :) - Enjoy!
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annehubbard 5404146
Sep 23, 2015
These sound awesome! I'm making them this weekend... but was wondering can I put these in the deep fryer instead of frying them in a skillet, and add the parsley, garlic, salt, pepper in with the dumpling mixture?
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Test Kitchen Team
Sep 24, 2015
Unfortunately, we have not tried making the dumplings this way, so we're not sure if this would work. If you decide to try anyway, please let us know how they turn out for you!
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2doozy 5845438
May 30, 2015
Can you freeze these? If so, at what point in the process?
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Test Kitchen Team
Jun 01, 2015
Hello! - Yes, you can absolutely freeze these dumplings right after flouring them (before you boil them). When you're ready to serve, just start at step 3 (you don't even need to thaw them). Enjoy!
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wildrunner 9444572
Apr 22, 2015
put filling inside dough and mold the dough around filling. sounds like a really good recipe,will have to try for sure!
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KimberlyC
Oct 22, 2014
Followed the recipe exactly.....Delicious!!!! My Family loved them and will definitely make them again! Served with a green salad with homemade Italian dressing, and Italian cut green beans.
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grannyblu
Oct 13, 2014
We liked these this recipe also reminds me of Italian rice balls which are also delicious
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grannyblu
Oct 10, 2014
I can't wait to try these they sound wonderful I have used premade gnocchi before but have never tried home made
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Member 6912932
Oct 09, 2014
I am going to make some tonight and I will let you know how I like it. I made a cassarole dish for my group. I have some sauce left over. I will try it with that. I am Italian and I have never heard of this but I am willing to try something new.
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Member 6912932
Oct 09, 2014
Isn't this like gnocchis only without the rolling cutting into pieces?
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KeithBerson
Oct 09, 2014
Step 2 says to drop a teaspoonful of dough onto a baking sheet, but no where in the ingredients does it say anything about dough!
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steinert 5714632
Oct 09, 2014
Step 1 is all about making the dough.
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roynbarbi 9975190
Oct 10, 2014
Watch the video, it looks oh, so good!
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steinert 5714632
Oct 21, 2014
The whole 1st step is about making the dough!
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