Best German Spaetzle Recipes

GERMAN DUMPLINGS (SPAETZLE OR KNIFFLES) FOR SOUP OR SAUTE

Steps:

• Mix these together until sticky.
• Drop into bubbling soup or stew, broth or water. (see below for ideas).
• Dumplings will rise to the surface as they cook; remove from liquid with a slotted spoon (if sautéing in another pan); set aside in a bowl (keep warm).
• MAKE THE DUMPLINGS #1: This method results in very small, stringy-ish dumplings and is great for soups or stews. Spoon several tablespoons of batter into a colander, then with the back of the spoon--press the batter through the holes into the bubbling liquid.
• METHOD #2: This method forms larger dumpling pieces (dime & quarter size) and is great for soups or stews, too -- but especially good if you want to saute the dumplings afterwards (more on that in a minute). Using a teaspoon and butter knife, scoop up a spoonful of batter, then use the knife to cut off little dibs and dabs, using the knife to also push the dibs into the hot liquid. If the knife or spoon gets messy, just dip into the hot liquid.
• SERVING IDEAS: We love these in chicken-dumpling soup (use your regular chicken soup recipe -- skip the egg noodles and make these dumplings instead). OR scoop out the larger dumplings (Method #2), and saute in butter or olive oil along with kielbasa or other sausage and LOTS of onion ring slices. OR saute some fresh veggies, then add the dumplings -- heaven!
• VARIATIONS: Add several pinches of your favorite herbs along with the flour to enhance the soup, stew or saute dish.
• Chef's Note: Altho' this is kind of putzy, it is well worth the effort and SO different from regular pasta-noodles.

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. Drain well.
• Saute cooked spaetzle in butter or margarine. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top, and serve.

GERMAN MEATBALLS WITH SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Cook spaetzle according to package directions. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan combine the meatballs, broth, mushroom pieces, and chopped onion. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15 to 20 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine, stirring well, the sour cream, flour, and caraway seeds. Stir into meatballs mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook one minute longer.
• Spoon meatballs over the spaetzle and garnish with chopped parsley.

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.

GERMAN KAESE SPAETZLE FOR 1 OR 2

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients in small bowl and set aside.
• In a medium-sized bowl, beat egg well.
• Alternate adding dry mixture and milk until batter is smooth.
• Let batter stand 30 minutes.
• Boil a pot of lightly salted water.
• Extrude batter either through a spaetzle maker or course cheese grater.
• Let boil until spaetzle rise to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon and put in strainer or on paper towels to dry.
• Add grated cheese as desired and stir together. Serve immediately.

GERMAN SPAETZLE WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• •Preheat oven to 325°F.
• •Heat butter (or oil) in skillet and sautee onions until tender, about 5 minutes.
• •Butter casserole dish. Begin by layering with 1/3 of the spaetzle, season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat, until you have layered 3 times.
• •Top with the sauteed onions.
• •Bake, uncovered, about 20 - 30 minutes, or until bubbly and slightly browned on top.

GERMAN SPAETZLE WITH SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water, add oil, and bring to a boil.
• Place flour in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the middle. Add salt, eggs, and water and beat the dough until smooth and bubbly. The dough should have a thick consistency. Fill a spaetzle press with the dough and squeeze into the boiling water (You may use a colander to push the dough through or a wooden cutting board and scrape dough little by little with a knife into the water).
• When the spaetzle float to the top of the pot, drain them. Place half of the spaetzle in a glass baking dish and add a layer of sauerkraut on top. Add another layer of spaetzle and sauerkraut. Cover the pan to keep the dish warm.
• In a separate pan melt the butter and add breadcrumbs just long enough to moisten them. Top the spaetzle with the breadcrumbs. Serve all layers together, or reheat the next day in a little bit of butter.

TINY GERMAN DUMPLINGS SPAETZLE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour with the eggs, salt, pepper, and warm water.
• Beat hard with a wooden spoon to form a thick, smooth batter.
• Continue beating for 5 minutes.
• This should be done rather energetically, by scraping the dough toward you with a regular rhythm, so as to incorporate as much air as possible.
• Let the dough rest, covered, for 15 minutes.
• Bring the salted water to a boil.
• If you are using a spaetzle mill, simply push the dough through it into the boiling salted water.
• If you do not have a mill, balance a colander (the largest you own) on the rim of the pot in which the water is boiling.
• Make sure that the water is at least 8 inches below the colander or the dough will simply congeal from the steam.
• Use a large wooden spoon to press the dough through the holes in the colander into the water.
• A third alternative is to add a little more flour to the dough (about 1/2 cup) to stiffen it.
• Remove the dough to a floured board and with a sharp knife slice it into strips about 1/4 inch wide and 1/2 inch long.
• Boil the spaetzle for 4 minutes.
• Drain in a large colander, and rinse briefly under cold running water.
• Drain.
• *Melt the butter in an ovenproof skillet.
• Saute the spaetzle for 3 to 4 minutes, then place the skillet in a 350°F.
• oven and bake for 10 minutes.
• Serves 6 to 8.
• NOTES AND VARIATIONS:*You can make the spaetzle ahead up to this point.
• Spread them out on a kitchen towel and cover them with a damp towel.
• They will keep for several hours.
• The Dumpling Cookbook.

"SPAETZLE" GERMAN EGG NOODLES

Steps:

• Put the flour and salt into a large bowl. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil
• Add the eggs, and start mixing with a wooden spoon, gradually adding water as you go.
• When you have reached a thick consistency (dough should only slowly fall off the spoon) "beat" the dough hard until it forms some bubbles and is well blended.
• Make the Spaetzle by either using a special press (looks like a potato ricer with larger holes) or by scraping small parts of dough off a chopping board with a knife.
• Let each noodle drop into the boiling water (don't overcrowd the pot).
• Once they rise to the surface they are cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and enjoy!

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!

JUTTA'S TRADITIONAL GERMAN SPAETZLE WITH SAUERKRAUT.

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water, add oil, and bring to a boil.
• Place flour in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the middle. Add salt, eggs, and water and beat the dough until smooth and bubbly. The dough should have a thick consistency.
• Fill a spaetzle press with the dough and squeeze into the boiling water (You may use a colander to push the dough through or a wooden cutting board and scrape dough little by little with a knife into the water).
• When the spaetzle float to the top of the pot, drain them. Place half of the spaetzle in a glass baking dish and add a layer of sauerkraut on top. Add another layer of spaetzle and sauerkraut. Cover the pan to keep the dish warm.
• In a separate pan melt the butter and add breadcrumbs just long enough to moisten them. Top the spaetzle with the breadcrumbs.
• Place in a preheated oven at 200 C for 15 minutes.
• This is also delicious reheated the next day with a little bit of butter.

GERMAN SPAETZLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• 1. Mix together flour, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg. Beat eggs well, and add alternately with the milk to the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth. 2. Press dough through spaetzle maker, or a large holed sieve or metal grater. 3. Drop a few at a time into simmering liquid. Cook 5 to 8 minutes. Drain well. 4. Saute cooked spaetzle in butter or margarine. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top, and serve.

SAUERKRAUT SPAETZLE WITH GERMAN SAUSAGES

Steps:

• Cook the Sauerkraut for about 15 minutes with some juniper berries, bay leaves and a dash of white wine. (Don't let it burn).
• Cook the Spaetzle al dente in boiling salt-water.
• Melt three tablespoons of butter in a large pan. Sauté the chopped up onion and about 1 cup of diced bacon. (Be careful with the amount, depending on the saltyness of the bacon).
• When the bacon is nice and crunchy, fry the Spaetzle in the same pan until they are just a bit golden.
• Add the cooked Sauerkraut and stir well. Season with salt and pepper.
• Just before serving, throw in the chopped parsley for some fresh color.
• Fry up the sausages and place on top of the Spaetzle.

CRUMB COATED SPAETZLE (GERMAN NOODLE)

Steps:

• 1. In bowl combine flour and salt stir in eggs and milk until smooth. Fill a soup kettle three-fourths full with water; bring to boil. With rubber spatula press dough through a colander into boiling water. Cook and stir gently for 4-5 minutes or until spaetzle float and are tender. Combine bread crumbs and butter with slotted spoon transfer spaetzle to large bowl add crumb mixture and toss to coat.

SPAETZLE - GERMAN

Steps:

• Beat eggs well; add remaining ingredients and beat until the dough blisters.
• Drop from the tip of a wet teaspoon into boiling salted water.
• Cook until tender (about 15 minutes). Drain.
• Toss with melted butter.

GERMAN DUMPLINGS (SPAETZLE OR KNIFFLES) FOR SOUP OR SAUTE

Steps:

• MY NOTE: When our church decided to host a "German Reformation Night" dinner, I went hunting for authentic German recipes. Here is one that fits the bill. There are two ways to make the dumplings (explained below). Serving ideas suggested below too. Gushundheit--!
• Mix these together until sticky.
• Drop into bubbling soup or stew, broth or water. (see below for ideas).
• Dumplings will rise to the surface as they cook; remove from liquid with a slotted spoon (if sautéing in another pan); set aside in a bowl (keep warm).
• MAKE THE DUMPLINGS #1: This method results in very small, stringy-ish dumplings and is great for soups or stews. Spoon several tablespoons of batter into a colander, then with the back of the spoon--press the batter through the holes into the bubbling liquid.
• METHOD #2: This method forms larger dumpling pieces (dime & quarter size) and is great for soups or stews, too -- but especially good if you want to saute the dumplings afterwards (more on that in a minute). Using a teaspoon and butter knife, scoop up a spoonful of batter, then use the knife to cut off little dibs and dabs, using the knife to also push the dibs into the hot liquid. If the knife or spoon gets messy, just dip into the hot liquid.
• SERVING IDEAS: We love these in chicken-dumpling soup (use your regular chicken soup recipe -- skip the egg noodles and make these dumplings instead). OR scoop out the larger dumplings (Method #2), and saute in butter or olive oil along with kielbasa or other sausage and LOTS of onion ring slices. OR saute some fresh veggies, then add the dumplings -- heaven!
• VARIATIONS: Add several pinches of your favorite herbs along with the flour to enhance the soup, stew or saute dish.
• Chef's Note: Altho' this is kind of putzy, it is well worth the effort and SO different from regular pasta-noodles.

GERMAN HOMEMADE EGG SPAETZLE

Steps:

• TO MIX IN A FOOD PROCESSOR: Place 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, nutmeg and salt in a work bowl fitted with the metal chopping blade and whirl briskly to mix. Add egg and milk and beat hard (about 3 to 4 one-minute churnings of the motor) until batter is elastic and shows bubbles on the surface.
• TO HAND MIX: Mix dry ingredients in a bowl; combine egg and milk and add all at once; beat hard until batter is bubbly and elastic.
• Push the batter through a spaetzle press (or colander) into kettle of rapidly boiling salted water. Cook the spaetzle uncovered for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. With a slotted spoon, lift the spaetzle to a large bowl of ice water and let stand until nearly ready to serve-but no longer than an hour or two.
• Drain the spaetzle well in a colander, then warm 4 to 5 minutes in the melted butter in a large sauté pan over moderately low heat, stirring now and then. Serve at once. Serves 4.
• Jean Anderson Cooks.