**Allgäu Cheese Spätzle: A Culinary Journey Through the Heart of Bavaria**
In the heart of Bavaria, nestled amidst picturesque landscapes and rolling hills, lies the Allgäu region, renowned for its rich culinary heritage. Among its many delights, Allgäu cheese spätzle stands out as a beloved dish that embodies the region's love for hearty, comforting food. These soft, pillowy dumplings, known locally as Kässpatzen, are a testament to the region's dairy prowess, showcasing the distinct flavors of Allgäu's prized cheeses. Join us on a culinary exploration as we delve into the world of Allgäu cheese spätzle, unraveling its history, variations, and the secrets behind its irresistible taste. Along the way, we'll gather a collection of authentic recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic dish, ensuring that every bite is a journey through the heart of Bavaria.
ALLGäUER CHEESE SPAETZLE (ALLGäUER KäSSPATZEN)
Spaetzle is a particular kind of German pasta bit or small dumpling; Allgåu is a region in southwest Bavaria, in southern Germany. (I tell the kids that this is German-style macaroni and cheese.) This recipe was given to me by a friend, Volker Klüpfel, co-author of a series of popular German detective novels whose main character, Detective Kluftinger, has a weakness for Kåsspatzen -- a specialty of the region. Ideally, one uses a special Spaetlze maker (not too common here in the U.S., but inexpensive and readily available online); otherwise, you can make the little pasta bits by hand with a knife -- it just takes a little longer. Also, if you're hesitant to use the pungeant Limburger and Weisslacker cheeses, skip them and just use extra of the other two (Detective Kluftigner will never know!).
Provided by Belgophile
Categories Cheese
Time 1h45m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Make the spaetzle dough about thirty minutes to an hour before cooking; the dough needs time to rest.
- To make spaetzle dough: In a large bowl whisk the eggs, salt and water together. Gradually add flour, beating well. Let rest, then beat again. Let rest, then beat. You want a batter that is shiny and elastic and a little runny, but slightly stiff. (For instance, it should be thicker than pancake batter, but runnier than mashed potatoes. More like pudding, sort of. You'll get the hang of it, and it doesn't have to be !00% perfect.).
- About 40 minutes before serving: Preheat oven to 325°F Also, put a big pot of water over high heat; this needs to come to a boil.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until onions are dark caramel colored, about 30 minutes. The trick is to stir the onions enough to keep them from burning, but not so often as to interrupt the browing process.
- While onions are slowly cooking, make the spaetzle. When the water is boiling, place the spaetzle maker across the top of the pot, add dough to the metal cup of the machine, and starting sliding the cup back and forth across grater-like flat part of the machine. Gravity will pull the slightly runny dough through the holes at the bottom of the cup, and eventually little drops of dangling dough will fall into the water. These are the spaetzle. Continue sliding the cup until all the dough has emptied. Let the spaetzle cook for a few moments. When the batch is floating on the surface, scoop them out with a slotted spoon, place in a baking dish, and set aside. Repeat the process until all the dough is used.
- (Note: if you don't have a spaetzle maker, roll out small amounts of the dough on a cutting board until about 1/4-inch thick. Then use a knife to cut into pieces about 1/4-inch wide by 1-inch long -- about the size of elbow macaroni, were it straight. Scrape the pieces into the boiling water.).
- When all the spaetzle is made and in the baking dish, add the grated cheeses and use a wooden spoon to stir and distribute cheese evenly throughout the spaetzle. Sprinkle onion over top.
- Place in oven for 5 to 10 minute, just enough to melt cheese and reheat some of the early spatzen that may have cooled down.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 610.8, Fat 30.8, SaturatedFat 17, Cholesterol 287.4, Sodium 1061.5, Carbohydrate 55, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 3.1, Protein 27.4
KAESE SPAETZLE
A tasty homemade pasta tossed with onion and Emmentaler cheese. A German version of macaroni and cheese.
Provided by NDBR
Categories Main Dish Recipes Dumpling Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Sift together flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Beat eggs in a medium bowl. Alternately mix in milk and the flour mixture until smooth. Let stand for 30 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Press batter through a spaetzle press into the water. You may also use a potato ricer, colander, or a cheese grater. When the spaetzle has floated to the top of the water, remove it to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Mix in 1 cup of the cheese.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook until golden. Stir in spaetzle and remaining cheese until well blended. Remove from heat, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 245.1 calories, Carbohydrate 20.1 g, Cholesterol 101.7 mg, Fat 13.1 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 11.5 g, SaturatedFat 7.5 g, Sodium 376.6 mg, Sugar 1.4 g
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh eggs, milk, and cheese will give your spätzle the best flavor.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing will make the spätzle tough.
- Use a spätzle maker or a colander with large holes: This will help you create evenly sized spätzle.
- Cook the spätzle in boiling salted water: This will help them cook evenly.
- Don't overcook the spätzle: They should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to them.
- Serve the spätzle immediately: They are best when served hot.
Conclusion:
Allgäuer Kässpatzen is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a side dish. It is a popular dish in Germany and Austria, and it is also becoming increasingly popular in other parts of the world. If you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, Allgäuer Kässpatzen is a great option. It is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
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