Nah, they mean knödel. Which get translated as dumplings but really should be translated as something else, like boiled buns or giant gnocchi or dough balls or something.
Let’s blame English — “dumpling” needs more specificity.
Yeah, somehow I hadn’t realized that English is creating a false equivalence between Knödel and jiao-zi (and so many other delicious things wrapped in dough)!
I mean I guess so, but Knödel aren't normally made out of just flour. Maybe the Czech ones, but that's more like a steamed or boiled bread.
I'm perfectly happy to blame English here.
True. Either potato or breadcrumbs, plus egg etc. But then Spätzle aren’t just flour either, as you said, basically a pasta noodle just in drop-boiled shape. Maybe OP’s chef just had a bad day, if there were lumps of flour being passed off as dumplings.
but yeah, the kind of dumpling that is a wrapper with contents should be linguistically distinguishable from the kind that is just balled-up boiled/steamed dough. Otherwise we get into “hot dogs are tacos are sandwiches” territory. Madness.
Yes!!! It’s crazy to me that Chinese jiao-zi and all related wrapped deliciousness are lumped together with Knödel & co. One could argue the jiao-zi have more in common with ravioli, but then we might go down a rabbit hole.
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Let’s blame English — “dumpling” needs more specificity.
their english translation however... sucks and sets dumpling lovers up for sadness and disappointment 😞
I'm perfectly happy to blame English here.
and I love german food too 😭