Best Spaetzle With Bavarian Meatballs Recipes

FOODIEEXTRAVAGANZA: #OKTOBERFEST - GERMAN MEATBALLS AND SPAETZLE

Steps:

• 1. First prepare the meatballs by combining the ground beef, egg, milk, bread crumbs, parsley, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl. Form into 1 ½ inch balls, about 24 in total.
• 2. Place meatballs in a large skillet and cook over medium high heat until browned on all sides. Drain any fat. Add the beef broth, mushrooms and onions to the skillet and reduce the heat to medium low. Cover, and allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the sour cream, flour and caraway seeds, stirring until fully combined. (*For a saucier meatball, double this portion.)
• 4. Add the sour cream mixture to the meatballs and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low and cover.
• 5. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
• 6. To prepare the spaetzle, sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Alternating, slowly add in the beaten eggs and milk, stirring until a firm, elastic dough is formed.
• 7. Transfer the dough into a spaetzle maker and drop into the boiling water. Spaetzle are done when they float to the top.
• 8. Use a strainer or slotted spoon to remove from the water and place in a large bowl. Add the butter and garlic powder and stir until all are coated.
• 9. Divide the spaetzle mixture onto plates. Divide the meatball mixture and place on top of the spaetzle. Serve immediately.

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.

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.

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.

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.

SPAETZLE WITH BAVARIAN MEATBALLS

Steps:

• * In a medium bowl, blend all ingredients except oil. Shape into 1-inch meatballs. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet. Add 1/3 of the meatballs sauté, shaking pan frequently while browning to keep meatballs from sticking. Use remaining oil as needed. Remove with a slotted spoon when cooked repeat until all are browned. Keep meatballs in a warm oven. Sauce: * Heat butter in a saucepan add onion and mushrooms. Sauté over medium heat until golden. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon set aside. Over medium heat, add flour to butter remaining in pan stir and cook for 3 minutes. Add beef broth and bring to boil. Cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until thickened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in onion-mushroom mixture, sour cream, and capers. Heat to just under boiling. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spaetzle:*In a bowl, beat eggs, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup water, and flour together until well-blended. Melt butter or margarine in a deep skillet place in a warm oven to hold for cooked spaetzle. Add 1 tablespoon salt and oil to boiling water. Grease the inside of a colander with vegetable shortening. Place colander in the saucepan so it is 2 inches above boiling water. Spoon 1/4 cup batter into colander force through holes with a rubber scraper so the spaetzle will fall into the water below. When spaetzle floats to the surface, count to 10 and remove with a slotted spoon. Place cooked spaetzle into skillet in oven to keep warm. Continue cooking spaetzle until all batter is used.Garnish:*To assemble: Mound hot meatballs in the center of a large heated platter surround with spaetzle and garnish with cherry tomatoes and parsley sprigs. Serve sauce separately.Note: Spaetzle will keep refrigerated, covered for 3 to 4 days.

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.