I first tried grape dumplings years ago at the Chickasaw Tribal Center and Museum. They have a cafe there and grape dumplings are a specialty. Best stuff ever! Needless to say, when I created a Choctaw character for one of my books, it was naturaly to make them his favorite. Plus, given the situation in Mexico right now, a first (or reread) of this book seems a bit appropriate because there’s a Mexican drug cartel involved. This is truly a comfort food, and traditional in several of the Five Tribes. While harvesting and cooking “possum grapes” was the old way, modern tribal cooks have updated the recipe to make it easy and still just as delicious. There comfort in tradttions and this recipe is an old one handed down generation to generation.
GRAPE DUMPLINGS RECIPE
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg
1¼ cups water
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
64 ounces grape juice
Sugar to taste
Let’s Make It
Place flour in a bowl. Make a well in center of flour and crack an egg into center. Using your fingers, begin mixing the egg into the flour and add water as you go. Form the dough into a ball and roll out very thin. Cut into 1-inch squares.
In a large pot place grape juice and sugar to taste. Bring to a rolling boil. Drop dumplings into boiling grape juice. Mix 1 Tablespoon cornstarch in 1 cup water. Add to hot grape juice. Cook for a few minutes so it thickens a bit and serve hot.
Kitchen Tip:
There are two different versions I’ve seen. One uses water for the dough. They other uses grape juice. Next time I make them I’ll be trying it with the juice!
Serve warm in a bowl. You can top with whipped cream or ice cream or just eat them plain.
As mentioned in the intor, this is one of Hawkins “Hawk” Greenwood’s favorite treats and his grandmother teaches Dana Peterson how to make them in the book. While Hawk is Choctaw, I’ll admit to finding a video of how to make these on Chickasaw-TV. THIS VERSION uses grape juice to make the recipe. You should check out the video just to hear the wonderful reminiscenses by the tribal elder. She’s all kinds of awesome! And I’ll admit that she rather reminds me Mariam Greenwood, Hawk’s ipokni, which means grandmother in the Choctaw language. If you want to read Hawk and Dana’s updated and revised story–including a kidnapping, rescue, and a road trip full of bikers–grab a copy of RESCUE MOON from your favorite online book seller. If you have a Hoopla subscription or can access through your local libary like I can, you can borrow it to read for free. Check out BOOKS2READ for the link to your fave store or click on either cover photos to get there.
I have to admit, now I’m hungry for these. I may have to add the ingredients to my grocery list for this weeki. What about y’all? What’s your favorite “hand-me-down” dessert?
Silver James 
This is a most unusual sounding recipe. I haven’t heard of it before. I have never saw grapes used for anything except to eat raw, and to make grape juice and jam or jelly.
I loved to eat wild grapes as a kid and those little orbs were bursting with tangy flavor, so I can see making them into a dumpling dish. I may try this next fall!
It’s really tasty!
Remind me late next summer to give it a try!
I’ll put it on my calendar.
I’ve never heard of grape dumplings before. They sound tasty and easy to make. My hands down favorite dessert is my grandma’s pecan pie. Whatever she did, we can’t figure it out 😉.
Have a nice afternoon.
Mmmm. Pecan pie! There is a special magic to making them and I’ve yet to figure it out. Our next door neighbor (when I was growing up) had the touch. I have her recipe, written in her hand and in 50 years, I’ve yet to make one as good as hers. 😮💨*sigh* I’m convinced there are pecan pie witches out there and I’m sooo not one of them! 😆