Germans From Russia Just another NDSU Library weblog

We (Fargo) tied our record low temperature of 30 below this morning. With subzero temperatures all week, we’re all doing our best to stay warm.

Every German Russian knows (or anyone with good taste) that nothing warms you up like a bowl of knoephla soup!

Growing up in south-central North Dakota, knoephla soup was a favorite all year long. However, on a cold day like today I can’t help but crave a bowl of mom’s creamy knoephla soup or even one from my hometown cafe. Home Plate Café in Fredonia, ND still serves knoephla soup every Tuesday. On cold days like today, it makes the 150-mile drive sound like a good idea. Maybe I should call and see if they have any left from yesterday. It would definitely hit the spot!

According to www.reference.com:

“Knoephla, also spelled knephla (in English), is a type of dumpling, commonly used in soups. The word is related to the modern German Knöpfle, meaning little knob/button. Traditional knoephla soup is a thick chicken and potato soup, almost to the point of being a stew. It is particularly common in the U.S. states of Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota, where there was significant German-Russian settlement.”

After waking up everyone’s taste buds, I had better leave you with a recipe.

Here is my imitation of my mom’s classic recipe (as with all great cooks she does not have one):

Knoephla Soup

1 Onion (chopped)
1 Recipe Knoephla (or a package of frozen Spätzle or dumplings)
5 Potatoes (peeled and diced)
4 Tablespoons Chicken Bullion (more or less depending on taste)
1 Carton Milk
Cream
Salt & Pepper

1. In a kettle, boil the knoephla and potatoes in water.
2. In a small pan sauté onion with butter.
3. Put carton of milk in soup kettle and begin to slowly warm, adding the chicken bullion.
4. Once the knoephla and potatoes are done cooking, drain and add them to the soup broth.
5. Add sautéed onion to the soup broth.
6. Simmer on medium low, stirring frequently.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Prior to serving, add some cream to thicken the broth.

I encourage you to post your favorite knoephla soup recipe.

Stay warm,
Acacia

The Germans from Russia Heritage Collection website features web pages of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Odessa, Ukraine. The web pages were completed in cooperation with Ella Melik, Moxee, Washington.

The purpose of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church web pages is to build a picture of the historical German community from its beginning in 1827 up to its closure until Stalin. The webpages includes history, clergy, Realschule and links.

Please click here for further information.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Odessa, Ukraine