Authentic German Spaetzle Recipe
Schwabian Spätzle Recipe
I am sure that every house in Southern Germany has their own German Spaetzle recipe. My recipe is also from an orginal source and with some practice you will soon be enjoying this National Southern dish.
Spätzle originates from the German word Spatz which means "small sparrows". It is a dish widely found in Southern Germany (Baden-Württenberg and Bavaria).In case you haven't tried Spätzle before, it is a flour and egg based homemade pasta, very similar to noodles. They are originally made by scraping the dough from a wooden board into boiling water with the back of a wide knife or (Schaber) which is a special scraping tool.
My mother-in-law makes her Spätzle using the traditional method, which takes a lot of practice. Thank goodness, nowadays, there are tools available such as a Spätzle press or even a potato ricer which will also produce excellent Spätzle.
In the past, some families used whey instead of water for making the dough. Whey actually contained a waste product that is obtained when producing curd and cheese. The whey gave the Spätzle a lighter consistency. However, I use water for my Spätzle recipe. So without any further ado, below is my Spaetzle recipe. Read and follow it carefully and enjoy your homemade Spätzle.
Ingredients
500g wheat flour 4-5 eggs 1 tsp salt 1/8-1/4 litre water, depending on type of flour hot water for tossing the Spätzle
As a side dish my Spaetzle recipe serves 8. For a main course serves 4. Mix the flour, eggs and salt in a large bowl. Add the water Moisten a Spätzlesbrett (a wooden board with a handle on one side and a bevelled edge on the other), with water. Spread a small amount of dough on it and scrape with a broad knife thin strips of dough into slightly boiling water. If you are using a Spätzle press or potato ricer, then you need to fill the press with the dough and press down as per instructions.
While scraping, dip the board and the knife time and time again into boiling water. This makes scraping the dough easier. When the Spätzle rise to the surface, remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon and toss them briefly in hot water, so that they won't stick together. Drain well and place them on a pre-heated plate and serve immediately.
Spätzle can either be served with melted butter and slightly toasted breadcrumbs or with finely sliced, fried onion rings.
Spaetzle also taste excellent if the dough is only prepared with eggs (about 8-9 eggs) instead of water.
Enjoy my Spaetzle recipe with a roast meat dish with a sauce or gravy.
Examples of Spätzle recipes:
Linsen, Spätzle und Saitenwürstle: Spätzle with lentils and frankfurter style sausages. Gaisburger Marsch: a stew containing Spätzle. Kässpätzle: Spätzle mixed with a large amount of grated cheese and topped with fried onions. This can be served as a main course.
A Spaetzle press will help you no end. If you would like to purchase one go to my
kitchen store shop.
From Spaetzle recipe to more German side dish recipes here
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