Spaetzel Recipes

SPäTZLE (AKA SPAETZLE)

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.

GERMAN SPAETZLE DUMPLINGS

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.

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.

SPAETZLE NOODLES

Steps:

• Follow package directions for noodles. When done, dump the spaetzle into a colander and quickly rinse with cool water.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and add the spaetzle, tossing to coat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to give the noodles some color, then sprinkle with chives and season with salt and pepper.

SPAETZLE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk eggs. Whisk in water, nutmeg, oil, and salt. Add 2 cups flour. Using your hands, mix until combined. Add remaining cup flour, a little at a time, until thoroughly combined and a dough forms. It may not be necessary to add all of the flour. Continue using your hands to beat the dough to remove any air pockets that may have formed. Let rest for 15 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Prepare an ice bath; set aside. Using an offset spatula, spread a small wooden cutting board thinly with rested dough. Cut the dough crosswise into thin pieces with the edge of the spatula, and slide into the boiling water. Alternatively, you can use a spaetzle maker. When the spaetzle begins to float, use a slotted spoon to remove and transfer to ice bath. When completely cooled, drain well, and transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle with enough oil to prevent it from sticking; toss to combine. The spaetzle may be made up to this point, 1 hour in advance.
• Heat clarified butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add spaetzle, and cook until heated through. Season with salt and nutmeg. Serve immediately.

SPAETZLE - HUNGARIAN

Steps:

• Mix flour, eggs, and a little salt with water into a paste. Do not beat!
• Drop bit by bit into boiling salted water (the more the better).
• Two approaches work here, either: (a) lower scant teaspoon of the paste into the boiling water (the spaetzle will separate from the spoon and start to cook) one by one, (b)use a coarse grater to force drops of the paste into the water.
• Cook for 1-2 minutes then strain (and rinse, optional).

SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Fill 4-quart Dutch oven half full with water; heat to boiling. In medium bowl, mix eggs, milk, flour, salt and pepper with fork (batter will be thick).
• Press a few tablespoons of the batter at a time through colander with 1/4-inch holes, or spaetzle maker, into boiling water. Stir once or twice to prevent sticking. Cook about 2 to 5 minutes or until spaetzle rise to surface and are tender; drain. Toss with butter.

SPAETZLE

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

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.

SPAETZLE

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.