Q&A for How to Make Rivels

Rivel is pronounced like so: ri-vuhl.

The recipes each require either flour or wheat flour, so the basic flour used is all purpose/plain wheat flour.

Combine flour, yeast and water, and mix them together.

Cooking time can vary depending on your stove and the weather, so while the recipe suggests 15 minutes, it's best to monitor your rivels closely.

The servings depend on the size of your scoops. If you use a tablespoon per person, it will serve up to four people.

Yes, you can buy rivels online from various retailers, such as Amazon and Dutch Country General Store. They may also be available at grocery stores or specialty food stores that carry Pennsylvania Dutch products. Be sure to read the product description carefully to ensure you're getting the right type of rivels for your recipe.

Rivels are meant to be denser than other dumplings, like drop dumplings. More flour helps rivels hold their shape and prevents them from becoming too soggy in the broth, giving them a slightly chewy texture. However, if you prefer a more tender rivel, you can use less flour, which may result in a different texture but should still work well in your recipe.

That's a great comparison! Rivels and matzo balls are both typically dropped into simmering broth to cook. However, rivels are made with eggs and flour, while matzo balls also include matzo meal and sometimes other ingredients like oil, herbs, and spices. Rivels have a milder flavor and a chewy texture, compared to the more savory and softer texture of matzo balls.

Your aunt's dish sounds delicious! It may be similar to a German dish called "Leberknödel," or liver dumplings, made with ground chicken liver, egg, breadcrumbs, and herbs, simmered in chicken broth. You could use this as a starting point and add your twist or search for other recipes for chicken liver dumplings.

If you have oats on hand, you can blend them in a blender or food processor to make oat flour.

You can, but it might make the taste softer and creamier. If that's what you're looking for, go for it! However, the base for cooking rivels is usually chicken or potato soup.

You can make them ahead of time, and they will last for a few hours if you follow the recipe.

Yes, you can make rivels in an Instant Pot. Rivels are a type of dumpling common in Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. To prepare them, mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and baking powder) in a bowl, then add the wet ingredients (milk and egg) and stir to form a dough. Drop spoonfuls of the dough into the broth in the Instant Pot and set it to manual or pressure cook mode for about 10 minutes.