Traditional Romanian Plum Dumplings (Găluște cu Prune) are a delicious Transylvanian dessert made from potato dough wrapped around juicy plums, boiled, and coated in a crispy cinnamon breadcrumb mixture. Soft, sweet, and comforting, these dumplings are perfect for fall or as a nostalgic treat from Eastern European cuisine.
Ingredients
Dough
- 500 g (1 lb) potatoes (boiled with skin)
- 1 egg
- 150-200g (1 to 1 ½ cups) all-purpose flour
- A pinch of salt
Filling
- 10-12 small plums
- 2 tbsp sugar
Coating
- 100 g (1 cup) breadcrumbs
- 50 g (¼ cup) butter
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Prepare the Potatoes
- Boil potatoes with their skins on to avoid excess moisture.
- Let them cool slightly, then peel and mash them until smooth.
Make the Dough
- In a large bowl, mix mashed potatoes, egg, and salt.
- Gradually add flour, kneading gently to form a soft, slightly sticky dough.
Prepare the Plums
- Wash the plums and cut them halfway to remove the pit.
- If they are not very sweet, sprinkle sugar inside before sealing.
Make the Cinnamon Breadcrumbs
- In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add breadcrumbs and stir until golden brown.
- Mix in sugar and cinnamon, then remove from heat.
Shape the Dumplings
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Wet your hands, take a small piece of dough, flatten it, and place a plum in the center.
- Carefully wrap the dough around the plum to seal it completely.
Boil the Dumplings
- Drop dumplings into boiling water, a few at a time.
- When they float to the surface (after about 5-6 minutes), they are cooked.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and let them drain for a few seconds.
Coat & Serve
- Roll each hot dumpling in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Serve immediately while warm and fresh!
Notes
Romanian plum dumplings, or Găluște cu Prune, are a traditional dessert deeply rooted in Transylvanian cuisine. What makes them unique is their unexpected ingredient—potatoes! Though often associated with savory dishes, potatoes serve as the base for these incredibly soft, sweet, and indulgent dumplings.
The combination of tender potato dough, juicy ripe plums, and a golden breadcrumb-cinnamon coating creates a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. Despite being a relatively simple recipe, it does require a bit of patience, as the dough can be quite sticky. However, the final result is well worth the effort—a dessert that is sure to impress guests and transport anyone to the heart of Romania with just one bite.
Sounds delicious! Definitely adding this to my “to try” list. The cinnamon breadcrumbs sound amazing.