Chestnut Spaetzle Recipes

CHESTNUT SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Fill a 6-quart, heavy-bottomed pot with 12 cups water and bring to a boil over high heat. Set a spaetzle maker or a large-holed colander over water, so that it is about 3 inches from the surface of the water; adjust water amounts accordingly. Add 1 tablespoon salt to water and return to a boil. Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and nutmeg until well combined. Whisk flours together and add to egg mixture; stir until smooth and slightly elastic, about 2 minutes. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Place half of the batter in the spaetzle maker or colander; press batter through the holes so that it falls into the batter in tear-drop shaped pieces. Let spaetzle cook until they rise to the surface, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, immediately transfer spaetzle to ice-water bath. Repeat process with remaining batter.
• Drain spaetzle from ice-water bath. Melt butter in a medium heavy-bottomed, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add spaetzle and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; serve immediately.

DUCK BOURGUIGNONNE WITH CHESTNUT SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add celery, carrots, and onion; cook, stirring, until softened and browned, about 8 minutes. Add port, red wine, and garlic; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes; remove from heat and let cool completely.
• Place duck legs in an 8-quart Dutch oven. Pour cooled wine mixture over duck legs to completely cover. Cover Dutch oven and refrigerate 1 to 2 days.
• Remove duck legs from marinade; pat dry and set aside. Strain marinade through a mesh strainer into a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, discarding solids. Bring liquid to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and let simmer until liquid has reduced by two-thirds, about 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a Dutch-oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, season duck legs with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour, coating on all sides and shaking off any excess. Add duck legs to hot oil and cook until golden brown on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer duck legs to a plate and repeat process with remaining duck legs.
• Return all duck legs to Dutch oven. Whisk butter into reduced wine mixture until well blended and add to Dutch oven along with chicken stock, bay leaves, orange peel, and thyme. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover, and immediately transfer to oven. Cook until duck legs are tender and pulling away from the bone, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Remove Dutch oven from oven and transfer duck to a platter; set aside. Strain liquid through a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium saucepan; discard solids. Place saucepan over high heat and cook until liquid reduces enough to coat the back of a spoon, skimming off any foam or oil that floats to the surface, about 1 hour. You should have about 5 cups of liquid. Season with salt and pepper.
• Return duck legs to Dutch oven and strain liquid over duck, discarding solids. Place Dutch oven over medium-high heat and cook until duck legs are heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Cover to keep warm.
• Divide spaetzle among 4 plates. Top each with 2 duck legs; spoon over about 1/4 cup of sauce per plate. Stir parsley into Grand Mere. Top duck legs with Grand Mere and serve immediately.

SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Whisk the flour with the nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and add the eggs and milk. Gradually mix the milk and eggs into the flour to make a sticky batter.
• Spray both sides of a colander with 1/4-inch-wide holes (see Cook's Note) with cooking spray then spoon the batter into the colander. Hold the colander directly above the pot of boiling water (using an oven mitt if necessary) and working quickly, use a rubber spatula to push the batter through the holes into the water. Simmer until all of the spaetzle float to the surface and are tender, about 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl. Toss the spaetzle with the butter and sprinkle with herbs, if using.

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.