Why Cheese Buttons Are One Of North Dakota’s Most Famous Dishes – Tasting Table

Dumplings of any type, are a good way to stretch costly protein ingredients further to feed more at the table, an important feature for hard-working farm families, and so variations of cheese-filled dough are common in many northern European communities. 

Cheese button dumplings are typically made from a simple dough mixture of flour, eggs, and water, encasing a generous filling of flavorful cheese, similar to Ukrainian varenyky or Polish pierogi ruskie, but without additional potato. The cheese used can vary, with some recipes favoring milder options like farmer’s cheese, but today most cheese buttons are filled with dry cottage cheese. The dumplings are typically boiled until they float to the surface, indicating their readiness. Once cooked, they can be enjoyed in various ways — some prefer them with a drizzle of melted butter and onions, while others savor them with a sour cream or toasted breadcrumb sauce. 

Dumplings are comfort food around the world, and in this case, a flavorful bridge to previous generations of immigrant communities who shaped and enriched the culinary landscape of North Dakota.