Best 5 Spatzle Recipes

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.

GOULASH AND SPATZLE

Steps:

• To make the goulash, combine the salt, 1 teaspoon of the paprika, pepper and garlic salt in a small bowl. Season the meat with the spice mixture. Set aside.
• In a large casserole, heat the lard or chicken fat over high heat until it begins to smoke. Add the pieces of meat in one layer and, while stirring constantly, quickly fry the meat until evenly browned, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the onions and cook until wilted, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the meat and stir until blended. Add the remaining paprika, reduce the heat to medium low, and stir for an additional 2 minutes.
• Add the broth or water, tomato paste and caraway seeds. Cover, and simmer over low heat until meat is tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Set aside to cool, cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Reheat the goulash over low heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• To make the spatzle, combine the eggs and milk in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Set aside. Combine the flour and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a separate bowl. Slowly add the flour mixture to the eggs and beat until smooth. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add the remaining salt. Reduce the heat to a simmer, drop 1/2 teaspoons of the dough into the water and simmer until cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes after they rise to the surface. Drain, rinse under cold running water, drain again and transfer the spatzle to an ovenproof baking dish. Add the butter, stir, and keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.
• Divide the spatzle into individual bowls, spoon the goulash over, and garnish with parsley.

SPATZLE

Steps:

• In small bowl, beat together egg yolks, egg, and milk.
• In medium bowl, whisk together flour, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Add egg mixture to flour mixture and mix with wooden spoon just until well blended. (Do not overmix.) Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Bring large pot salted water to boil. Fill large bowl with ice water. Place spätzlemaker, perforated sheet pan, or large-holed colander on top of pot. Force one-third of batter through holes into water. Cook until spätzle float to surface, 4 to 5 minutes, then transfer immediately with slotted spoon to bowl of ice water. Make 2 more batches in same manner.
• When spätzle are cool to touch, drain well and toss with 1/4 cup oil. (Spätzle can be prepared up to this point and refrigerated, covered, up to 2 days.)
• In large sauté pan over high heat, heat remaining 1/4 cup oil. Add spätzle and cook, without moving pan, until undersides are brown, about 2 minutes. Add butter and sauté until golden brown, about 2 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

HUNGARIAN SPATZLE (BABY DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Blend the eggs, milk and salt.
• Add the flour, baking powder and beat thoroughly.
• Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil with 2 tablespoons salt.
• With a teaspoon drop small portions of batter into boiling water, dipping spoon into water frequently to prevent sticking.
• Cook just till tender, about 10 minutes.
• Pour into collander and rinse lightly with cool water.
• Drizzle with melted butter, toss lightly and serve hot.

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.