Domplines (Dominican-Style Dumplings) is a pasta-like boiled dough cooked in tomato sauce or cheese-based sauces. Fun to make and made easier with our recipe with video.
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I was an adult the first time I tried Domplines (Dominican-Style Dumplings). This was not part of my regional food culture. If you are totally unfamiliar with it, think of this as a local version of many similar dishes found throughout the world. Think Italian gnocchi, or Austrian spätzle.
Where did dumplings originally come from?
This dish, in particular, arrived at our shores with the cocolos. They came from the British Caribbean to work in the sugar industry and settled mostly in and around San Pedro de Macorís.
Dumplings, for most people, are pockets of dough filled with meats, vegetables or cheese, then fried, steamed or boiled. Of the filled variety, the jiaozi (the best-known Chinese dumplings) are the most famous ones, with Italian tortellini and ravioli possibly following (or vice-versa). Nearly every country seems to have one or many dumpling varieties that are traditional in their cuisine.
In Latin America, Puertorrican domplines consist of fried, puffy dough; in Chile pancutra are slices of dough added to vegetable soup.
In the Caribbean British isles, dumplings are very similar to ours, and to our Bollitos de Maíz, another type of dumpling popular in the Dominican Republic. In Barbadian cuisine, dumplings are slightly sweetened, and served in soup, while in Jamaica they can also be fried.
As we can see, dumplings are nearly-universal, with countless versions and combinations of ingredients and preparations.
About Domplines (Dominican Dumplings):
Dominican Domplines are made with wheat flour and usually cooked in a sauce-rich dish. It’s a very humble dish, filling, and packing a lot of carbohydrates. Domplines are usually served with small amounts of protein, most commonly Dominican Salami Guisado, Bacalao Guisado (Salted Codfish), Pollo Guisado (Braised Chicken), or canned sardines in tomato sauce. It’s the kind of dish that will keep you going when the budget is short. Some people, though, eat this because for them it’s a comfort, familiar food.
For this recipe, I have made them with a cheese sauce inspired by the one in which it is sometimes traditionally served. But also give you the option of serving it with salted codfish in tomato sauce, following this recipe, but leaving the potatoes out and using dumplings instead.
Buen provecho!
Domplines – Recipe & Video (Dominican-Style Dumplings)
Ingredients
For the cheddar sauce
- 1 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar , cut into cubes
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 1/4 cup of milk
- A pinch of pepper
For the dumplings
- 1 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 3 tablespoons of water at room temperature
- 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour (plus 3/4 cup to use as needed)
- 3 tablespoons of salted butter at room temperature
To boil dumplings
- 2 qt [2 lt] of water for boiling
To serve
- 1 tablespoon of minced parsley (optional)
Instructions
How to make the cheese sauce
- Blend all the ingredients in the food processor.
How to make the dumplings
- Dissolve the salt in the water. Pour into a large mixing bowl.
- Add in 1/2 cup of flour and butter. Mix in with a spatula, the dough will be very shaggy, so add extra flour as needed to make it non-sticky. Then start kneading with your hands until you obtain a smooth dough.
- There are several traditional shapes for dumplings. To make the finger-like ones, cut small pieces of the dough and shape into long fingers (about 3″ [7.5 cm] in length and 1/2″ [1.3 cm] in diameter). Let them rest.
To make the short-shape in the pictures, a much easier and attractive shape, in my opinion, I flattened the dough and cut into long 1″ [2.5 cm] diam. rolls, then cut them into thin slices with a very sharp knife, or, to make it even faster, cut with kitchen scissors, like in the video. They get a little flattened when cut, taking the elongated shape that you see (1), to make the traditional flat ones, just flatten with your thumb (2).
- In the meantime heat the water for boiling over medium-high heat, until it breaks into the boil. Lower the dumplings carefully into the water in small groups (to prevent splatters), stir.
- Cook for 5 minutes after the dumplings rise and float, stirring often to prevent them from sticking (taste for doneness by splitting one and checking there’s no raw flour in the middle). Remove from the water with the slotted spoon.
- To make with cheese sauce: In a separate pot, add cheese sauce to the dumplings, cook over low heat until the sauce thickens. To make it with Bacalao: Add to the sauce in lieu of potatoes, simmer in its sauce for a minute.
- Serving: Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
I love that you shared this recipe. I tried these as an adult and learned how to make them because my husband loves them. Your technique of flattening the dough and then cutting it makes the process much easier. I love your website and the traditional recipes you share with the modern twist. Keep up the great work.
I am glad you liked it, thanks for trying it.
I’ve been looking for something to substitute for the very thick egg noodles in Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish, plain old Chicken and Noodles of the Midwest. This fills the bill perfectly. Will be using it for other things as well, but this crosses cultures to solve a big issue for me. Thanks.
That’s awesome. I wouldn’t have thought of using it like that. 🙂
Loved it, this was easier to make than I thought.
For me a dumpling is not a dumpling if it hasn´t got suet in it
!!!!
Yeah, different countries, different people, different foods. 🙂