Kreplach facts for kids
| Type | Dumpling |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Dough: flour, water and eggs Filling: ground meat, mashed potatoes or other |
Kreplach are small, tasty dumplings. They are usually filled with ground meat or mashed potatoes. People often boil them and serve them in chicken soup. Sometimes, they are fried instead. Kreplach are similar to dumplings from other countries. These include Italian ravioli, Russian pelmeni, or Chinese wonton. The dough is traditionally made from flour, water, and eggs. It is kneaded and rolled out thin. Some modern cooks use frozen dough sheets. You can also buy ready-made Kreplach in the kosher freezer section of supermarkets.
Contents
When Are Kreplach Eaten?
In Ashkenazi Jewish homes, Kreplach are a traditional food. They are often served on special holidays.
Kreplach for Jewish Holidays
- Rosh Hashanah: This is the Jewish New Year.
- Yom Kippur: Kreplach are eaten at the meal before this fast day.
- Hoshana Rabbah and Simchat Torah: These are other Jewish holidays.
- Purim: Kreplach with vegetarian or dairy fillings are eaten on Purim. The filling is "hidden" inside the dough. This reminds people of the "hidden" miracle of Purim. Many communities also serve meat-filled Kreplach on Purim.
- Shavuot: A sweet cheese-filled version is served on Shavuot. This holiday celebrates receiving the Torah.
- Chanukah: Fried Kreplach are popular on Chanukah. They are fried in oil, which connects to the Chanukah oil miracle.
Stuffed pasta like Kreplach may have come from Venice. It might have reached Ashkenazi Jews in Germany around the 14th century.
Understanding the Name "Kreplach"
The Yiddish word kreplekh means "small pastries." It comes from an older German word, krappe, which meant "a piece of pastry."
A Fun Story About the Name
Some people have a fun way to remember the name. They say KReP stands for the first letters of three holidays:
- K for (Eve of) Kippur
- R for (Hoshaana) Rabbah
- P for Purim
This is a folk story, not the real history of the word.
Different Shapes of Kreplach
Kreplach can come in different shapes. Some cooks use a square of dough. They fill it and fold it into triangles. Others use round pieces of dough. This makes a crescent shape. Sometimes, two squares of dough are used together.
See also
In Spanish: Kreplach para niños
