Directions

• In a 4-quart kettle, add salt to 10 cups cold water and heat to boiling.
• Sort dry beans into a strainer and rinse with cold water. Add beans to water and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 4 to 16 hours.
• Drain and rinse both beans and pan, discard soak water. Cover beans with 10 cups fresh, cold water. Add ham and broth or hocks.
• Add chopped vegetables to beans and ham. Add dill and pepper; stir. Cover and simmer one hour, until beans are tender.
• If hocks or bones were used, remove from soup. Remove meat, cut up and return to soup. Discard bones, skin, and fat. Add tomatoes and stir.
• Make knoephla (recipe below) and add to simmering soup. Stir soup while adding knoephla to prevent them from sticking together. Knoephla will float at first, then sink down into the soup as they cook. Cover and simmer an additional 30 minutes.
• KnoephlaMix dry ingredients in a small bowl. Mix egg and water in a measuring cup.
• Pour liquid into dry ingredients and mix with spoon. Spread 1/4 cup flour on the counter and knead dough until smooth.
• Break dough into six or eight pieces. Roll between hands into long, thin pieces (smaller than your little finger).
• Use small amount of flour to prevent dough from sticking to hands and counter. Cut with a scissor into small (approximately ½ inch) pieces.