Hearty potato dumplings simmered in rich broth, topped with butter or brunost. A traditional Norwegian comfort food passed down through generations.
Ingredients
- 5 medium potatoes, peeled and grated
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour (or more, as needed)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 500 g salted pork or lamb pieces
- 1.5 litres water (or rich meat broth)
- 2 tbsp butter (for browning)
- Optional: slices of brunost (brown cheese), crispy bacon, pickles, or mustard
Instructions
- Prepare the broth: In a large pot, bring water or broth to a simmer. Add pork or lamb and let it simmer while you prepare the dumplings.
- Make the dumplings: Grate potatoes into a bowl. Stir in salt, baking powder, and gradually add flour until a sticky, moldable dough forms.
- Shape and cook: With wet hands, form golf ball-sized dumplings. Drop gently into simmering broth. Cover and cook on low heat for 45–60 minutes.
- Brown the butter: In a small pan, melt butter and cook until it turns golden and nutty.
- Serve hot: Place dumplings on a plate, pour browned butter over, or top with sliced brunost. Optional: serve with mustard, pickles, or bacon.
Notes
🥔 Kumla: Hearty Norwegian Potato Dumplings That Hug You From the Inside 🇳🇴❄️
Tucked between snow-capped peaks and fjord-side villages, Kumla is the kind of dish that wraps you in a warm blanket of tradition and starch. Made from potatoes, flour, and a hefty dose of Nordic comfort, these plump dumplings are a working-class classic turned comfort food royalty 🧤🔥.🥔 A Taste of Heritage, One Dumpling at a Time
Every Norwegian grandmother seems to have her own Kumla recipe — often written on a stained scrap of paper or passed down by heart. It's the food of Sunday dinners, harvest days, and cold winter nights when the snow piles higher than your mailbox.So, what makes Kumla special?
- 🥣 Mashed potato dough dumplings — tender, starchy, and deeply satisfying
- 🍖 Simmered in rich pork or lamb broth, soaking up all the savory flavors
- 🧈 Drizzled with browned butter or topped with brunost (Norwegian brown cheese) for that salty-sweet punch
🍺 The Kumla Experience: Rustic Meets Rich
In Flåm, a legendary version of Kumla has earned a cult following — especially when served with:- 🍖 Pinnekjøtt – salty steamed lamb ribs, a Norwegian holiday must
- 🍺 Ægir IPA – from one of Norway’s most iconic craft breweries, for a bitter contrast to all that buttery goodness
📍 Where to Find Kumla in Norway?
While Kumla is mostly a homestyle classic, it occasionally pops up in restaurant menus as a midweek special — a nod to nostalgia, filling bellies and hearts with every bite. If you see it, order it. Then cancel the rest of your plans. You’ll be too full to move. 😅 💬 Would you try these Norwegian dumplings on a chilly night? Or maybe even top them with bacon AND cheese? Let me know below! 🥔🔥🧈 Norwegian recipes