Barvarian Spaetzle Recipes

AUTHENTIC GERMAN SPAETZLE WITH MUSHROOM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. In a separate large measuring jug, whisk together the water, milk and eggs until smooth.
• Add the egg mixture to the bowl with the flour, stir, then vigorously beat the batter with a wooden spoon until there are no more lumps, you see air bubbles forming and the batter rips off the spoon when trying to scoop it up. This will take around 5 minutes of continous beating. Cover and rest the batter for 30 minutes.
• When ready to make the Spaetzle, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Reduce the heat to a good simmer. Place a large wooden board on top of the pot, then place 1/2 cup of batter on the board. Using a blunt knife, scrape slivers of the batter into the pot.
• Once the spaetzle float to the surface, remove them with a slotted spoon and place in a lightly buttered casserole dish to keep warm. Proceed the same way with the remaining batter.
• While the spaetzle batter is resting, place a large, deep skillet over medium high heat and melt the butter in it. Add the onion, garlic and mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms have fully softened - about 5-10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium. Evenly sprinkle the seasoning and the flour over the mushrooms, then stir well. Pour the white wine into the skillet, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
• Pour the beef broth into the skillet, stirring well. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, until the gravy has thickened. Finish with the cream, if you like.
• Serve the finished gravy over the finished spaetzle.

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.

BARVARIAN SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In a large mixing bowl stir together eggs, water, salt, pepper, and flour.
• Spoon batter into grater section of spaetzle maker and slide it quickly back in forth over boiling water. Boil for a few minutes or until spaetzle floats to the top, stirring occasionlly. Drain.
• Transfer spaetzle back to pot and gently stir in butter, until melted.

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.

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.