Semmelknödel mit Pilzrahmsoße (Bavarian Bread Dumplings with Mushroom-Cream Sauce)

A friend of mine found this recipe on the website for the German Embassy years ago. However, it appears to have been taken down in the intervening years.

Makes: 4 Knödel - 2 servings as a main dish, 4 servings as a side

Cost per serving (Heidelberg): ~€2.26 as a main dish, ~€1.13 as a side

Calories per serving: ~832 as a main dish, ~416 as a side

Semmelknödel

• 250g plain white bread (e.g. a baguette) or Broetchen (Bavarian: "Semmel") cut into ~1cm /½" cubes
• 2 pieces of crispy-fried bacon, thoroughly crumbled
  
• 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 egg, beaten
• 85g (6Tblsp.) milk
• 2 Tblsp. onion, minced
• 1/2 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. butter
• 1/4-1/2 tsp. salt
• freshly ground pepper

Saute onion and garlic in butter until lightly browned. Pour milk over onion and garlic, and simmer ~1 minute. Add herbs to milk mixture, and pour over bread cubes. Add egg, bacon, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix ingredient thoroughly (Don't be too gentle--the mixture will resemble a dough when it is ready). Divide dough into 4 equal parts, and press tightly into balls using wet hands. Gently lower the Semmelknödel into lightly salted, simmering water with a slotted spoon and cook, covered, for ~3 minutes.


Mushroom Cream Sauce

• 250g white or brown champignons (or use your favorite kind of mushroom, e.g. Chanterelles), sliced
• 3/4 cup onion, chopped (or the remainder of the medium onion from above)
  
• 2 Tblsp. oil
• 1/4 cup (~125ml) chicken stock
• 1/4 cup (~125g) creme fraiche or heavy cream
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to tase
• 1 Tblsp. chopped chives

Saute mushrooms and onions together over medium/medium-low heat for three minutes. Add chicken stock, and reduce by half. Add creme fraiche or cream and simmer for an additional two minutes. Season to taste with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
Spoon sauce into bowl, and place Semmelknödel (1-2 per person depending on appetite and whether there will be any other dishes) on sauce. Garnish with chives.