Buttermilk Spinach Spaetzle Recipes

SPINACH SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Puree a 10-ounce package thawed frozen spinach (squeezed dry), 1/2 cup milk, 2 eggs, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a pinch of nutmeg until smooth. Combine with 1 3/4 cups flour in a bowl. Transfer to a cutting board; use the back of a knife to scrape off small strips of dough. Boil 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and toss with butter, a splash of cooking water, salt and pepper.

SPAETZLE

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.

SPINACH AND BUTTERMILK SOUP

Steps:

• In the container of a food processor or blender, combine half of the spinach with the buttermilk. Puree until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan, and stir in the rest of the spinach. Stir together the cornstarch and water; mix into the saucepan along with the sugar, peanuts (see Cook's Note), and salt. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add cumin seeds, and when they begin to sizzle, stir in the serrano peppers. (You can slice the peppers in two for added flavor and spiciness--or use fewer chiles, if desired.) When the peppers begin to soften slightly, scrape the contents of the pepper pan into the buttermilk mixture.
• Bring the buttermilk mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat immediately, and serve hot.

CHICKEN AND CARAWAY SCHNITZEL WITH BUTTERMILK SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Using a meat mallet, pound the chicken thighs to 1/4" thick. Place the garlic, paprika, caraway seeds, wine, salt and pepper in a medium bowl and mix to combine. Add the chicken and toss to combine. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to marinate.
• To make the spaetzle, place the flour, eggs, buttermilk and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In batches, push spoonfuls of the batter through the holes of a colander into the boiling water to make small dumplings. Cook for 1 minute or until the spaetzle rises to the surface. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Repeat with the remaining batter. Keep spaetzle warm.
• Place the flour, salt and pepper in a medium bowl and mix to combine. Place the eggs and buttermilk in a separate bowl and whisk to combine. Place the breadcrumbs in a third bowl. Dust the marinated chicken with the flour, dip into the egg mixture and press into the breadcrumbs to coat.
• Pour oil into a large frying pan to a depth of 1" and heat over high heat. Cook the chicken in batches, turning, for 3-4 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels, set aside and keep warm.
• Heat another large frying pan over high heat. Add the butter and cook for 3-4 minutes or until it starts to foam. Add the sage and cook for 1 minute. Add the spaetzle and toss to coat. Divide the schnitzels between serving plates, top with the spaetzle mixture and serve with lemon wedges.

SPINACH SPAETZLE WITH BACON AND SAGE

Steps:

• Drop spinach leaves into boiling water to blanch, then transfer to a bowl of ice water to cool. Drain spinach and squeeze dry. Put cooked spinach in a blender or food processor with the eggs and yolks and blitz briefly to make a green purée. (Alternatively, finely chop the spinach and stir together with beaten eggs and yolks.)
• Put spinach in a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, the nutmeg and the pepper. Beat in flour and 3/4 cup cold water to make a wet, sticky batterlike dough. Beat for 5 minutes, until lump free. If the mixture seems too stiff, beat in a few more tablespoons cold water. (If using a spaetzle tool, thin the batter to a more runny consistency.) Leave batter to rest at room temperature, covered, for 15 minutes.
• Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a large wide pot of well-salted water to a boil. Stand close to the pot with the bowl of dough in one hand and a soup spoon in the other. With the edge of the spoon, grab thin slivers of dough approximately 1 inch long, dropping them one by one into the boiling water. (Cook a dozen or so at a time.) Let the spaetzle cook for 1 minute or so, until they rise to the surface. Remove with a skimmer and immediately cool in ice water. Continue until all batter is used. Drain cooked spaetzle and blot dry. (The recipe may be prepared up to this point several hours before serving.)
• Just before serving, set a large wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon and let it render without browning much, about 2 minutes. Pour off fat and leave bacon in pan. Add butter and let it foam, then add sage leaves and let sizzle for 30 seconds. Add cooked spaetzle and sauté, stirring with a wooden spoon until heated through and lightly browned. Transfer to a warm serving bowl. Serve immediately with grated Parmesan.

BUTTERMILK-SPINACH SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Squeeze out as much liquid as possible from spinach. Place spinach in blender. Add buttermilk, oil, egg and yolk; blend well. Sift flour, salt and nutmeg into large bowl. Gradually add buttermilk mixture; stir until thick and sticky batter forms.
• Working in batches, drop batter by rounded 1/2 teaspoonfuls into large pot of boiling salted water, dipping teaspoon into boiling water between spoonfuls. Boil until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer spaetzle to colander and drain well. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add spaetzle and stir until coated with butter and heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to platter; serve.

BUTTERMILK CREAMED SPINACH

Steps:

• Trim stems off of the spinach, chop it and rinse well. In a large skillet, add spinach and onions over low-medium heat. Steam covered for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove spinach mixture from the skillet and set aside. While spinach is cooling, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Once heated through add flour, (1 T. at a time) mixing thoroughly with the oil or butter making sure there are no lumps. Reduce heat to low and once more finely chop the spinach-onion mixture with the garlic clove and add it to the oil-flour mixture. Mix very well then add the buttermilk, salt and nutmeg. Mix well and allow to remain on the heat for another 5-10 minutes.

HERBED SPAETZLE AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, nutmeg, and herbs in a large bowl. In another bowl, beat the milk, eggs, and 5 tablespoons olive oil. Whisk into flour mixture until smooth.
• In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil; add 1 tablespoon salt. Fill a potato ricer fitted with a 1/4-inch-hole attachment with batter and push it through into the boiling water, or use a colander, pushing batter through with a rubber spatula. Cook spaetzle until it floats to the top, about 30 seconds. Drain spaetzle in colander.
• Heat remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add spinach and saute until it starts to wilt. Add spaetzle, season with salt and pepper, and cook until hot. Serve immediately.

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM SOUP WITH SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Whisk flour, salt, oregano, marjoram, parsley, chives, dill, and pepper together in a large bowl.
• Whisk milk, eggs, and mustard together in a small bowl. Gradually mix in flour mixture until just combined.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Place a spaetzle maker over the boiling water and pour spaetzle dough into the slider basket. Run the basket back and forth until bits of dough fall into the boiling water. Boil spaetzle until firm, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain.
• Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add olive oil, then onion. Sweat the onion for 3 to 4 minutes. Add mushrooms and saute until slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add spaetzle and stir to combine. Cook until spaetzle is heated through and crispy in spots, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

CHILLED SPINACH-POTATO SOUP WITH BUTTERMILK

Steps:

• Bring the potatoes, broth or water, and salt to a boil in a soup pot; turn down and simmer slowly for about 20 minutes.
• Add the leeks, garlic and spinach during the last 5 minutes.
• Use a food processor or hand blender to puree the soup and all the veggies until smooth. You will probably have to do this in batches in the processor.
• Transfer the soup to a container, cover tightly and chill for about 4-5 hours or overnight.
• Stir in the buttermilk just before serving and add white pepper to taste.
• Sprinkle on the fresh dill for garnish.