Boiling Cheese Buttons: How Long Should You Cook Them?

Cheese buttons, also known as Kase Knepfla, are a traditional dish from the Dakota area. They are made by stuffing a dough mixture with seasoned dry cottage cheese, folding the dough, and boiling the buttons in salted water. The cooking time for cheese buttons varies across recipes, with some sources suggesting they are done when they float, others stating a cooking time of 6 minutes, and another source recommending they be cooked for no more than 10 minutes.

How to make the filling for cheese buttons

Cheese buttons are a traditional dish from North Dakota, with similarities to Italian ricotta ravioli. The filling for cheese buttons is made from a mixture of farm cheese, eggs, and seasoning. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make the filling for cheese buttons:

Step 1: Prepare the Milk

Pour two quarts of whole milk into a large, heavy-bottomed pot and heat slowly over a medium-low flame. Stir occasionally to avoid scorching the milk at the bottom of the pot.

Step 2: Form the Curds

When the milk reaches 150°F, stir in 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Then, remove the pot from the heat and cover it. As the mixture cools, stir it occasionally, and the curds will form within about 45 minutes.

Step 3: Drain the Curds

Line a large colander with fine-mesh cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel. Pour the curds and whey into the colander, allowing the whey to drain out. The curds will form a ball in the bottom of the cheesecloth. Gently twist the cloth between your hands over the sink to squeeze out any remaining whey.

Step 4: Mix the Filling

Transfer the cheese curds to a bowl and combine them with three beaten eggs and a pinch of salt. Add pepper to taste. Now you have your cheese button filling!

Step 5: Assemble the Cheese Buttons

Roll out your noodle dough and cut it into 2-inch squares. Place a scant teaspoon of the cheese filling in the center of each square. Moisten the edges of the squares with water, and then fold them over into triangles or rectangles. Gently squeeze the edges between your fingers to seal the filling inside.

Now, you are ready to boil your cheese buttons! Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the cheese buttons in batches. They will sink to the bottom at first but will eventually float. Continue cooking for a few minutes after they have floated, then transfer them to a bowl and keep them warm until all the buttons are cooked. Enjoy your delicious, homemade cheese buttons!

How to make the dough for cheese buttons

Making the dough for cheese buttons is a simple process, but it does require some time and patience. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make the dough:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 5-9 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• Dry curd cheese or cottage cheese

Instructions:

Start by pouring the flour onto a clean, flat work surface and creating a deep well in the centre. Break 3 eggs into the well and gently beat them with a fork. Gradually draw the flour into the egg mixture, adding water as you go. Be careful not to add too much water, as this will make the dough sticky. Once all the flour is incorporated, form the dough into a ball and begin kneading. Knead the dough for about 5 to 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and glistening. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let it rest for around 20 minutes.

When you are ready to roll out the dough, lightly flour your work surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces and roll each piece into a round shape, roughly 16 inches in diameter. If the dough is too sticky, dust it lightly with flour.

Now, you can cut the dough into your desired shape. Traditional cheese buttons are shaped like triangles or rectangles, but you can also use a glass to cut out circles. Just remember to brush water lightly on top of the circles before folding and sealing them.

Place a small amount of the cheese filling in the centre of each piece of dough, and then fold and seal the edges. You can use a fork to press the edges together to ensure that the filling doesn't come out during cooking.

Once all your cheese buttons are assembled, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook them in batches. They will sink to the bottom at first but will eventually float to the top when they are done. Remove the cooked buttons with a slotted spoon and keep them warm in the oven while you cook the rest.

And that's it! You now have perfectly cooked cheese buttons ready to be served with your choice of toppings or sauces. Enjoy!

How to cut and fill the cheese buttons

To cut and fill the cheese buttons, you will need to prepare the dough and the filling.

The Dough

First, make a mound with 3 cups of all-purpose flour on a clean, flat work surface. Make a deep well in the middle of the mound. Break three eggs into the well and, using a table fork, beat them gently. Next, stir in 3-5 tablespoons of water and then begin to draw the flour in from the edge of the well, stirring and mixing as you go. Continue to draw in the flour, adding 1 more tablespoon of water. Avoid adding too much water, or the dough will get sticky. When the flour is completely incorporated, form the dough into a ball and knead for 5 to 10 minutes until it is glistening and forms a smooth ball. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and let rest for 20 minutes.

When you are ready to roll out the dough, lightly flour the work surface. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll out one piece with a rolling pin, covering the remaining pieces in plastic while you work. Roll each piece into a round about 16 inches in diameter. Dust the dough lightly with flour if it is too sticky.

The Filling

In a bowl, combine the dry cottage cheese, egg, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape in a spoon.

Cutting and Filling

Cut the dough into 2-inch squares. Place a scant teaspoon of the cheese mixture in the center of each square. Moisten the edges of the squares with water and fold over into triangles and/or rectangles. Gently squeeze the edges between your fingers until they are well sealed.

Boiling

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In batches, add the cheese buttons to the boiling water. They will sink to the bottom but eventually float. Let the buttons continue to cook for a few minutes after they have floated. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon and keep warm in the oven until all of the buttons have been cooked.

Frying

Melt butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Stir in the bread cubes and sauté until the bread cubes are lightly browned and crisp. Pour over the boiled cheese buttons and noodles, stirring gently to mix.

How to boil the cheese buttons

Cheese buttons are a traditional dish from North Dakota with similarities to Italian ricotta ravioli. The noodle dough is made with flour, water, and eggs, while the filling is made with cheese curds, eggs, and seasoning. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to boil cheese buttons:

Preparing the Filling:

Start by heating two quarts of whole milk in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to avoid scorching. When the milk reaches 150°F, stir in 1/2 cup of white vinegar, then remove from the heat and cover. As the mixture cools, it will start to curdle and form curds, which should take around 45 minutes.

Line a large colander with fine-mesh cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel. Pour the curds and whey into the colander, allowing the curds to form a ball in the bottom. Gently twist the cloth to squeeze out any remaining whey.

Transfer the cheese curds to a bowl and mix in two beaten eggs, salt, and pepper to taste. Set the filling aside.

Preparing the Noodle Dough:

Making the noodle dough involves combining flour, water, and eggs. Start by pouring around 3 cups of all-purpose flour onto a clean, flat work surface, creating a mound with a deep well in the centre. Break three eggs into the well and beat them gently with a fork. Gradually draw in the flour from the edges, stirring and mixing until the flour is completely incorporated.

Once the dough has formed a ball, knead it for 5 to 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and glistening. Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and let it rest for about 20 minutes.

After the dough has rested, divide it into four equal pieces. Lightly flour your work surface and use a rolling pin to roll out each piece into a round shape about 16 inches in diameter. If the dough is too sticky, dust it lightly with flour.

Assembling the Cheese Buttons:

Cut the rolled-out dough into 2-inch squares. Place a scant teaspoon of the cheese filling in the centre of each square. Moisten the edges of the squares with water, then fold them over to form triangles or rectangles. Gently squeeze the edges between your fingers to seal the cheese buttons securely.

Boiling the Cheese Buttons:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cheese buttons in batches—they will sink to the bottom at first but will eventually float. Let them continue cooking for a few minutes after they have floated. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked cheese buttons to a bowl and keep them warm in the oven while you cook the remaining batches.

You can also cut any extra noodle dough into thin strips and boil them for 4 to 5 minutes to serve with the cheese buttons.

How to serve the cheese buttons

Cheese buttons are a traditional dish from the Dakota area, with roots in the state's German-Russian heritage. They are made by stuffing a dough mixture with cheese, forming 'buttons', and boiling them.

There are many ways to serve cheese buttons, but they are often served with some form of cream and onions. Here are some suggestions for how to serve your cheese buttons:

Fried with Onions and Breadcrumbs

Fry your cooked cheese buttons in a skillet with sliced onions and stale bread pieces, torn or cubed, until lightly browned. Drizzle with heavy cream and season with salt to taste.

With a Cream Sauce and Meat

Cheese buttons are usually served with some sort of creamy gravy with meat. For example, you could simmer cubed beef roast in onion soup for a whole day and add it over the cheese buttons and bread.

With Canned Peaches

Serve your cheese buttons with canned peaches, as this is how one grandmother served them!

With a Light Cream Sauce and Vegetables

You could serve your cheese buttons with a light cream sauce and some vegetables. This would make a delicious meatless meal!

With a Sweet Topping

For a sweet twist, top your cheese buttons with cinnamon sugar instead of onions and breadcrumbs, and add a dollop of sour cream for a sweet and sour treat.

With a Fried Bread Topping

Fry some bread cubes in butter and toss with your cooked cheese buttons.

With a Gravy Boat

Keep your cheese buttons warm in the oven and serve them with a gravy boat so that your guests can help themselves to extra sauce!

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