German Spätzle Food

EASY GERMAN SPAETZLE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together the flour, eggs, milk, and salt. Stir until the batter is well combined and develops bubbles. You can also use a mixer. The batter should neither be too thin nor too thick or it will be difficult to make the spaetzle with your spaetzle maker. Let the batter sit for 5-10 min.
• Put a colander into a bowl to drain the Spaetzle once cooked and bring a large pot of water over high heat to a boil, add about 1 Tbsp of salt to the water, and reduce temperature to a simmer.
• Press batter through a spaetzle maker, a large holed sieve or colander into the simmering water.
• Work in batches, after using about 1/3 of the batter stop adding new spaetzle and let them cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until they float to the top. Stir occasionally. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the spaetzle to the colander so that excess water can drip off.
• Serve the spaetzle immediately or saute them in butter to crisp them up a little. If you don't serve or saute them right away, add 1 or 2 Tbsp of butter to the hot spaetzle to prevent them from sticking together.

GERMAN SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Mix eggs, flour, and milk. Add seasonings to taste. (Batter will be pretty thick.).
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
• Using a spaetzle maker or colander (or anything that has holes in it), push batter through the holes into boiling water.
• Spaetzle is ready when it floats. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain the water out.
• Add butter to a saucepan and melt over medium-high heat.
• Add spaetzle and saute. (Add onions and garlic for extra flavor.).
• Serve and enjoy!

TRADITIONAL GERMAN SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Add the flour and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir to combine. Crack the eggs into a small bowl and whisk them. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the eggs in it. Add the milk (start with using slightly less and add more as needed). Attach a dough hook to the stand mixer and "knead" the dough for 16-20 minutes, or until bubbles appear (see pictured instructions for details). After 15 minutes or less of beating, use a wooden spoon to scoop and pull the dough. If bubbles/holes appear, the dough is done.
• Bring at least 2 quarts of lightly salted water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Using a Spätzle maker of your choice (I use and prefer the Spätzle press), press the noodles into the simmering water and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles float to the top. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the noodles to a colander, and then dump the noodles in a large bowl of ice water. Drain the noodles again, toss with some melted butter and serve warm.
• Make Ahead: The Spaetzle can be stored in the fridge for at least a couple of days and then reheated. Melt some butter in a large skillet and toss the Spätzle in it to heat through.

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.

GERMAN EGG NOODLES: SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Combine flour, eggs, and salt. Add enough water to make a batter the consistency of light cookie dough. Beat well until some air bubbles develop. Let the batter rest.
• Prepare a large pot with salted water. Bring to a boil. Scrape thin rolls of batter from a chopping board or run the batter through a sieve or spaetzle maker into the boiling water.
• Remove cooked spaetzle from the boiling water with a strainer and serve immediately or place in warm water if you are using the noodles soon but not immediately, or place noodles in cold water if you will be refrigerating or freezing.

GERMAN MEATBALLS AND SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Begin with the German meatballs: Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and shape into about 24 (1 1/2-inch round) meatballs. Brown the meatballs in a large skillet over medium heat, making sure to drain well as you cook the meaty mixture. Add beef broth, mushrooms, and onion. Simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.
• In a small mixing bowl, blend sour cream, flour, and caraway seed. Add to the simmering broth and meatballs.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
• Meanwhile, prepare the spaetzle by sifting together the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs and milk and beat well. Place in a coarse-sieved colander and sieve (pushing the batter through the holes of the colander) directly over a rapidly boiling pot of lightly salted water. Cook for about 5 minutes, drain.
• Sprinkle spaetzle with a mixture of fine breadcrumbs, garlic powder and melted butter.
• Place a large portion of the spaetzle on a serving platter and hollow out a well in the center. Spoon meatballs and sauce in the center of the spaetzle and serve warm.

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. When Spaetzle come to the top they are done. Remove with a slotted spoon. It is best to cook a small amount at a time.
• Saute cooked spaetzle in butter or margarine. Sprinkle chopped fresh chives on top, and serve.

TRADITIONAL SPäTZLE

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.