Cornmeal Spaetzle Recipes

CORNMEAL SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Whisk together flour, polenta, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Whisk together eggs, milk, and fromage blanc with a mixer on medium speed. Reduce speed to low; whisk in flour mixture. Raise speed to medium-high; whisk until thick and gooey, about 2 minutes.
• Working in batches and using a rubber spatula, gradually press batter through a large-holed colander into boiling water. Boil until spaetzle float to top, about 1 minute; scoop out using a fine sieve. Rinse under cold water; drain.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add spaetzle; season with salt and pepper. Brown, tossing often, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat; toss in dill.

SPAETZLE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. In another mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the egg-milk mixture. Gradually draw in the flour from the sides and combine well; the dough should be smooth and thick. Let the dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Bring 3 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large pot, then reduce to a simmer. To form the spaetzle, hold a large holed colander or slotted spoon over the simmering water and push the dough through the holes with a spatula or spoon. Do this in batches so you don't overcrowd the pot. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the spaetzle floats to the surface, stirring gently to prevent sticking. Dump the spaetzle into a colander and give it a quick rinse with cool water.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and add the spaetzle; tossing to coat. Cook the spaetzle for 1 to 2 minutes to give the noodles some color, and then sprinkle with the chopped chives and season with salt and pepper before serving.

HOMEMADE SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Mix the flour, eggs and a pinch of salt in a bowl, then gradually stir in up to 1 cup water to make a smooth, batter-like dough. Beat with a wooden spoon until bubbles form, then stir in the melted butter.
• Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Place about 1 cup of the dough in a colander with large holes; use a rubber spatula to push the dough through the holes and into the boiling water. (Or use a spaetzle press.) Cook for about 1 minute after the spaetzle float to the surface, then transfer with a slotted spoon to another colander. Repeat with the remaining dough. Rinse the spaetzle in cold water if not serving immediately and set aside.
• Before serving, saute the spaetzle in a skillet with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter until warmed through. Season with pepper and garnish with parsley.

HERBED SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a bare simmer. Combine the flour, 2 teaspoons salt, a pinch of pepper and the nutmeg in a large bowl. Whisk the sour cream, seltzer, eggs, herbs and mustard in another bowl, then stir into the flour mixture.
• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Working over the simmering water, place about 1 cup dough in a colander and push the dough through with a rubber spatula. Cook the spaetzle for 1 minute after they float to the surface, then remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to the ice water. Repeat with the remaining dough, letting the water return to a bare simmer between batches. Drain the spaetzle, spread out on a baking sheet and pat dry with paper towels. Toss with 2 teaspoons olive oil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Increase the heat to high and add half of the spaetzle in an even layer. Cook, undisturbed, until golden brown on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Shake the pan and loosen the spaetzle with a spatula; continue cooking until heated through, about 1 more minute. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat with the remaining butter, oil and spaetzle.

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.

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.