**Spätzle: A Versatile German Noodle Dish with Diverse Recipe Variations**
Spätzle, pronounced "shpet-zluh", is a traditional German noodle dish that has captured the hearts of food lovers worldwide. Originating in the southern regions of Germany, particularly Swabia, this delectable creation is characterized by its unique shape, ranging from small, dumpling-like pieces to longer, irregular noodles. The versatility of spätzle makes it a perfect accompaniment to various dishes, from hearty stews and creamy sauces to light salads and soups. This article presents a comprehensive exploration of spätzle, offering a collection of recipes that cater to diverse culinary preferences. From classic recipes that stay true to the traditional Swabian style to innovative interpretations that incorporate modern flavors, this article is a treasure trove for spätzle enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, you'll find a spätzle recipe that suits your taste and skill level. So, let's embark on a culinary journey through the world of spätzle, discovering the secrets behind this beloved German noodle dish.
SPAETZLE
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. In another mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the egg-milk mixture. Gradually draw in the flour from the sides and combine well; the dough should be smooth and thick. Let the dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Bring 3 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large pot, then reduce to a simmer. To form the spaetzle, hold a large holed colander or slotted spoon over the simmering water and push the dough through the holes with a spatula or spoon. Do this in batches so you don't overcrowd the pot. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the spaetzle floats to the surface, stirring gently to prevent sticking. Dump the spaetzle into a colander and give it a quick rinse with cool water.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and add the spaetzle; tossing to coat. Cook the spaetzle for 1 to 2 minutes to give the noodles some color, and then sprinkle with the chopped chives and season with salt and pepper before serving.
GERMAN SPAETZLE
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Place a large pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle boil.
- Meanwhile, prepare the spaetzle batter. In a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt; stir to blend.
- In a small bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of milk with the eggs.
- Add the milk and eggs to the flour mixture and beat with a wooden spoon or whisk until the batter is smooth and elastic. It will have a consistency similar to pancake batter. When you lift the spoon, it shouldn't flow; it should drip from it slowly. If too thick, add some milk, and if too thin, add more flour. Let the batter rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Place your spaetzle maker or another slotted utensil over the simmering water; add some of the spaetzle batter, and press it through the holes and into the gently boiling water. The spaetzle cook quickly, so it's best to cook them in two or more batches depending on the method you use.
- The spaetzle will take from 1 to 3 minutes to cook, depending on their size. The dumplings will float to the top when done.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the spaetzle to a bowl and toss with a teaspoon or two of butter. Repeat with the remaining batter.
- At this point, you may sauté the cooked spaetzle (see below) or refrigerate until it's time to sauté and serve. If you're skipping the sauté step and are serving them immediately, taste and add more salt and butter, as needed, along with the freshly ground black pepper and herbs. Toss and serve hot. Sauté the Spaetzle
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat until lightly browned.
- Add the spaetzle to the pan and increase the heat to medium-high. Sauté the spaetzle, stirring frequently, for about 3 to 7 minutes, or browned as desired. Taste the sauteéd spaetzle and add salt, as needed, along with freshly ground black pepper and fresh herbs. Toss and serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 225 kcal, Carbohydrate 33 g, Cholesterol 130 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 9 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 424 mg, Sugar 2 g, Fat 5 g, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
GERMAN SPAETZLE DUMPLINGS
Traditional German dumplings. You can also mince a few pieces of bacon in a pan, and heat the cooked spaetzle in the bacon drippings-only omit the butter, if preparing recipe with bacon.
Provided by MARBALET
Categories Main Dish Recipes Dumpling Recipes
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Mix together flour, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg. Beat eggs well, and add alternately with the milk to the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
- Press dough through spaetzle maker, or a large holed sieve or metal grater.
- Drop a few at a time into simmering liquid. Cook 5 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
- Saute cooked spaetzle in butter or margarine. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 140.9 calories, Carbohydrate 16.8 g, Cholesterol 73 mg, Fat 6 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 4.7 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 268.6 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
SPäTZLE (AKA SPAETZLE)
Apparently spätzle translates to little swallows in German, which makes a lot of sense when you consider their shape. These micro-dumplings cook in a just a few minutes, and are great plain with browned butter or topped with slowly braised meat.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Side Dish
Time 20m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Place flour, egg, salt, cayenne, cream fraiche, and milk in a mixing bowl. Whisk together until batter drips slowly off the whisk. If batter seems too thin, add a bit more flour; if too thick, add a bit more milk. You can test the thickness using the smooth side of a cheese grater with fairly large holes. If a dollop of the batter does not drip through the grating holes, it's the right consistency.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a simmer over medium-high heat. Use a spatula to push a spoonful of batter through the holes of the smooth side of the grater into the simmering water.
- When dumplings rise to the surface of the water, they are done. This will take just a few minutes. Remove dumplings with a slotted spoon, and repeat in batches with remaining batter.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 186.7 calories, Carbohydrate 25.4 g, Cholesterol 105 mg, Fat 6.1 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 7.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.9 g, Sodium 527.6 mg, Sugar 1.6 g
TRADITIONAL SPäTZLE
Spätzle (pronounced "shpetz-luh") is a German-Austrian version of fresh pasta. Austrian chef Wolfgang Ban uses plenty of eggs, which makes the noodles very fluffy, and adds a pinch of nutmeg. This recipe makes 4 cups, which you can serve immediately with Ban's silky crème fraîche sauce, or toss with a bit of oil before freezing.
Provided by Wolfgang Ban
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Spätzle: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add 4 egg yolks, 4 whole eggs, and a pinch of salt. Mix on medium-high until combined, 10 seconds. Turn off mixer and grate a bit of nutmeg into the eggs (just a hint will go a long way!); add the flour. Start mixing on low, then on medium-high until combined, 20 seconds. Check the consistency: the mixture should have the viscosity of thick pancake batter. To achieve this, add ½ cup water, and use the whisk attachment to beat the batter on high; with the mixer on, add more water as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, until batter reaches proper consistency, another 1-2 minutes. (Makes 2½ cups batter.)
- Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl and set aside. To the boiling water, add 2 large pinches salt and 1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil. Working in batches, cook the spätzle: Set the spätzle-maker over the pot. Add two ladles of batter to the sliding box; move the box back and forth over the grate and allow the batter to fall into the boiling water. Once the water comes to a boil again, stir the spätzle a few times to prevent clumping and to finish cooking, 1 more minute.
- When all the spätzle are fluffy and floating on the surface of the water, use a strainer to transfer them to the ice bath to stop the cooking, about 1 minute. Next, strain them from the ice bath, place in a bowl, and stir in ½ tablespoon oil to prevent sticking. Set aside. Repeat with remaining batter. (At this point, you can freeze the fully cooked spätzle in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature before using. Makes about 4 cups.)
- Cream Sauce: Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add ½ cup water, followed by ¼ cup crème fraîche, two pinches of salt, and a few gratings of nutmeg; stir to combine. Add 1 cup of spätzle in an even layer (note: sauce and spätzle can be doubled in a larger skillet). Add a few grinds of black pepper, and gently simmer to reduce the sauce, stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes. As the water evaporates, the spätzle will become evenly coated with sauce and plump up. Meanwhile, finely mince the chives. Set aside.
- When almost all the liquid is gone and the sauce has thickened up, taste and adjust seasoning. Add two tablespoons of minced chives and toss or stir to combine. Repeat with remaining servings of spätzle. Plate and serve immediately.
SPAETZLE II
Basic Spaetzle and how to serve while you make the schnitzel. We have a spaetzle press that is similar to a potato ricer with a little larger holes. My mother-in-law would put dough on a smooth rim plate and tip the plate till it started to slide off and cut off the dough in slivers with a butter knife into the boiling water. When they float they are done and can be skimmed off and put in a bowl. Melt the margarine in a pan and stir in breadcrumbs, pour mixture over spaetzle. (posted by John Reynolds)
Provided by Anne Edgell
Categories German
Time 35m
Yield 3-4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Sift flour into large bowl, make a depression in the center, and into it break the eggs.
- Add salt, pepper and nutmeg, and 1 cup water, or enough to make a medium batter.
- Beat the batter only until it is smooth.
- Pour the batter into a colander with large holes and let the Spaetzle fall directly into a pot of simmering stock.
- Stir gently so that they do not stick together.
- When the Spaetzle rise to the surface they are sufficiently cooked.
- Drain the Spaetzle well, put them in a heated vegetable dish, and pour 1/2 cup melted butter over them.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 528, Fat 6.1, SaturatedFat 1.8, Cholesterol 186, Sodium 657.3, Carbohydrate 96, Fiber 3.5, Sugar 0.6, Protein 19.2
SPAETZLE
Provided by Food Network
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Bring a saucepan of salted water it a boil, reduce the heat, and maintain a simmer. In a bowl, stir all the ingredients together. Place a colander over the pan, pour about1/4 of the batter into the colander, and press through the holes with a plastic spatula into the hot water. When the spatzle starts to float to the surface, cover the pan and keep covered until the spatzle appears to swell and is fluffy. Remove the dumplings and repeat the procedure with the remaining batter.
SPAETZLE
Noodle-meets-dumpling: An Eastern European staple, spaetzle are tender and eggy and a great side dish for saucy mains or even a roast chicken.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 30m
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Whisk the flour with the nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add the eggs and milk. Gradually mix the milk and eggs into the flour to make a sticky batter.
- Spray both sides of a colander with 1/4-inch-wide holes (see Cook's Note) with cooking spray then spoon the batter into the colander. Hold the colander directly above the pot of boiling water (using an oven mitt if necessary) and working quickly, use a rubber spatula to push the batter through the holes into the water. Simmer until all of the spaetzle float to the surface and are tender, about 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl. Toss the spaetzle with the butter and sprinkle with herbs, if using.
HOMEMADE SPAETZLE
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories appetizer
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Mix the flour, eggs and a pinch of salt in a bowl, then gradually stir in up to 1 cup water to make a smooth, batter-like dough. Beat with a wooden spoon until bubbles form, then stir in the melted butter.
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Place about 1 cup of the dough in a colander with large holes; use a rubber spatula to push the dough through the holes and into the boiling water. (Or use a spaetzle press.) Cook for about 1 minute after the spaetzle float to the surface, then transfer with a slotted spoon to another colander. Repeat with the remaining dough. Rinse the spaetzle in cold water if not serving immediately and set aside.
- Before serving, saute the spaetzle in a skillet with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter until warmed through. Season with pepper and garnish with parsley.
SPAETZLE
This traditional German dish is one of the most popular dishes in our family restaurant. It is so delicious when served with schnitzel or Parmesan cheese.-5;Essen Haus, Bob and Gail Worm, Madison, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 35m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a bowl, combine flour, salt, nutmeg and pepper. Add eggs and milk; stir to mix well (batter will be thick). In a Dutch oven or large kettle, bring chicken broth to a boil. Drop batter by 1/2 teaspoonfuls into boiling liquid. Boil until spaetzle rise to the surface; remove to ice water. Drain well. In a skillet, heat spaetzle in butter until lightly browned. Serve with schnitzel and gravy or with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 326 calories, Fat 7g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 190mg cholesterol, Sodium 920mg sodium, Carbohydrate 51g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 14g protein.
SPAETZLE
Expand the concept of pasta a bit, and you arrive at spaetzle, the quickly made and rather thin dough (somewhat akin to savory pancake batter) that is often "grated" into boiling water on a spaetzle maker, a tool that looks like a grater without sharp edges. I find spaetzle makers unnervingly tricky, so I prefer to do what I've often seen done by Alsatians, for whom spaetzle is traditional: drop the batter by the spoonful into boiling water. As with all pasta, the more fragile the batter is, the lighter the result will be, so don't make it too stiff; just stiff enough to hold together.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories easy, quick, side dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Set a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. In a bowl, combine flour with pepper and a large pinch of salt. Lightly beat together eggs and milk, and add to flour, stirring. If necessary, add a little more milk until mixture has the consistency of pancake batter.
- Scoop a tablespoon or so of batter, and drop it into water; small pieces may break off, but batter should remain largely intact and form a disk. Repeat, using about one-third to one-fourth the batter, depending on the size of the pot. When spaetzle rise to top a couple of minutes later (you may have to loosen them from the bottom, but they will pop right up), cook another minute or so, then remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl of ice water. Repeat until all the batter is used up.
- Drain spaetzle; at this point you can toss them with a bit of oil and refrigerate, covered, for up to a day. Heat butter or oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add spaetzle a few at a time, and quickly brown on both sides. Serve hot, garnished with parsley or chives.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 401, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 51 grams, Fat 16 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 386 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use the right flour. All-purpose flour is a good option, but you can also use bread flour or semolina flour for a chewier texture.
- Make sure the water is boiling. This will help the spaetzle cook evenly.
- Don't overcrowd the pot. Cook the spaetzle in batches so that they have room to move around and cook evenly.
- Don't overcook the spaetzle. They should be cooked until they are just tender, about 2-3 minutes.
- Serve the spaetzle immediately. They are best when they are hot and fresh.
Conclusion:
Spaetzle is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a side dish. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With a little practice, you can make spaetzle that is light, fluffy, and flavorful. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give spaetzle a try!
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