Besides Spätzle and Maultaschen, these German potato noodles are a traditional side dish or main dish in the South of Germany, the Swabian Region (“Schwaben”). They are also called “Fingernudeln” (finger noodles) because they are shaped like fingers. I love to serve them with homemade Sauerkraut, however, you can also enjoy them with roasted veggies. It’s even possible to eat them sweet with applesauce!
My boyfriend is originally from the “Black Forest” region (“Schwarzwald”). It’s part of the Swabian Region which means that he is very familiar with this delicious dish. We used to buy Schupfnudeln quite often in the store but making them from scratch at home is even better because now we can enjoy them vegan and gluten-free!
Simple Ingredients
The recipe is actually very similar to my Homemade Gnocchi. It’s made with potatoes, chickpea flour, and tapioca flour. I sometimes also add a little powdered vegetable broth (bouillon powder) which adds a wonderful flavor. As you can see, you only need a few simple ingredients to make these delicious fried vegan dumplings. A classic Schupfnudel recipe contains potatoes, regular all-purpose flour, and egg yolks. My recipe is not only egg-free and gluten-free, but it’s also grain-free, and protein-rich because of the chickpea flour! All ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Schupfnudeln?
Below you can see a couple of process shots. The recipe isn’t complicated at all. All you need to do is boil the potatoes, mash them, and combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Roll the dough into long strands, form into tapered cylinders, then fry in a pan. It’s super easy actually! PHOTO 1: In the first picture, I mash the cooked potatoes with a potato masher. PHOTO 2: Next, I combined the mashed potatoes with the flour mixture. Knead with your hands until the dough comes together. PHOTO 3: You can see how the dough looks like after kneading it for a few minutes. It should be smooth and not dry. PHOTO 4: In the fourth photo I show how I rolled out the dough into strands.
PHOTO 5: Use a knife to cut the dough into 1 to 1 1/2-inch pieces. Check the next photo below. PHOTO 6: Roll each piece between your hands into finger-shaped dumplings. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just try to make them a similar size. PHOTO 7: Heat oil in a pan and add the thick noodles. Fry from one side until nicely browned. Then flip and fry from the other side. PHOTO 8: Add water to the pan and place a lid on top to steam the dumplings until the water evaporates.
This method is the easiest and turns out great every time. However, it’s also possible to cook the potato noodles in boiling water first until they float to the top. Then remove them from the water with a slotted spoon and fry them in a pan with oil or vegan butter (same as gnocchi). Both options work but the first method is more convenient! These cute looking German potato dumplings are a wonderful alternative to rice, regular potatoes or pasta. I am sure you will impress your guests with this interesting dish.
Which Type Of Potato?
I prefer Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes. They should be rather on the starchy side and not waxy. If you use waxy potatoes, the dough will turn out a little sticky. Yukon Gold is probably my favorite potato variety and perfect for this homemade recipe.
Are They Freezable?
Absolutely! I often make a larger batch and freeze half of the potato noodles for later use. You can freeze them on a baking tray. Once they are completely frozen, you can transfer the Schupfnudeln to a container or freezer bag. It works best to fry them in a pan right out of the freezer, no need to let them thaw (they get quite soggy/mushy when you let them thaw).
The Recipe Is:
Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free) Gluten-free Grain-free Easy to make Hearty Perfect for dinner, appetizer, side dish Can be combined with many dishes
Should you give these homemade German Schupfnudeln a try, please leave a comment and rating below and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan and #elavegan because I would love to see how your potato dumplings turned out! ???? Make sure to also check out my other traditional German recipes. They are vegan and gluten-free.
German Dampfnudeln Caramelized Onion Tart Homemade Marzipan Easy Apple Strudel
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