Here is a classic German-style Cabbage & Dumplings recipe — comforting, rustic, simple, and very authentic to old-world home cooking. Soft dumplings, buttery cabbage, and savory onions all simmered together.

🇩🇪 German Cabbage & Dumplings (Kraut und Knöpfle/Klößchen)

Serves: 4–6
Time: 45–60 minutes
Style: Rustic Bavarian/Swabian comfort food

🥬 Ingredients

For the Cabbage

• 1 medium green cabbage, chopped or thinly sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 3 tbsp butter (or bacon drippings for extra flavor)
• ½–1 cup chicken broth or water
• 1–1 ½ tsp salt (to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Optional:
  • 4–6 slices bacon, diced
  • 1–2 tbsp vinegar (apple cider or white) for tartness
  • 1 tsp caraway seeds (traditional)

For the Dumplings (Klöße/Knöpfle)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs
• ⅔ cup milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp melted butter
  (Or use store-bought spaetzle if preferred.)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Cook the Cabbage

1. In a large pot or deep skillet, melt butter (or fry bacon and use the fat).
2. Add onion and cook until soft and lightly golden.
3. Add cabbage, salt, pepper, and optional caraway seeds.
4. Sauté 10 minutes until cabbage begins to soften.
5. Add broth, cover, and simmer 20–25 minutes until tender.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning; add a splash of vinegar if you like a tangy German touch.

2. Make the Dumpling Dough

1. In a bowl, combine flour, salt, eggs, milk, melted butter.
2. Mix until thick, sticky, and scoopable (like drop-biscuit dough).
   • Add 1–2 tbsp more milk if too stiff.
   • Add a spoon of flour if too runny.

3. Cook the Dumplings

You can cook them two ways—the classic simmer or the cabbage-drop method.

Option A: Traditional Simmer (Best texture)

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a gentle boil.
2. Drop spoonfuls of dough into the water.
3. Cook 5–7 minutes until dumplings float and are cooked through.
4. Drain and toss with a spoon of butter.

Option B: German “Drop Into the Cabbage” Method

1. Drop spoonfuls of dough directly into the simmering cabbage mixture.
2. Cover and cook 10–12 minutes, turning dumplings once.

4. Combine & Serve

Add dumplings to the cabbage pot (if cooked separately) and gently fold everything together.

Taste and season with more salt, pepper, butter, or vinegar as desired.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

• Serve with smoked sausage, bratwurst, or pork chops
• Add browned bacon or ham pieces
• Serve with crusty rye bread
• Add fresh parsley or chives on top

💡 Tips for Authentic Flavor

• Caraway seeds are very traditional in German cabbage dishes.
• Butter + vinegar gives the dish a sweet-sour “Bavarian” flavor.
• Add bacon for a smoky Franconian-style version.

If you’d like, I can also give you:
🥬 Cabbage & spaetzle version • 🥘 German fried cabbage with potatoes • 🍖 Bavarian-style cabbage with smoked pork