German Spaetzle - My Grandma's Recipe - The Domestic Dietitian (2024)

FAQs

What kind of flour do you use for spaetzle? ›

A fine, soft flour, labelled as 405-type in the German classification, is often used for spätzle in their homeland, but most recipes just call for the nearest British equivalent, plain flour, with the exception of that in Christine McFadden's book, Flour – after testing several recipes, she tells me, she found that ...

The consistency of the batter should be pourable but not super runny (it should drop off a spatula or spoon in thick ribbons). Bring a pot of lightly salted water or broth (about 2 to 3 quarts total) to a boil. Press the batter through a spaetzle maker in batches (see notes for alternate methods).

Place a cheese grater (smooth side up, grating side down towards the water) over the pot. Once the water is boiling, spoon some of the sticky dough (about 1/2 cup) on top of the grater. Use a wooden spoon or a pastry scraper to rub the dough through the holes and into the water.

Can German Spaetzle Be Prepared Ahead of Time? Yes! It holds its shape wonderfully and if you shock the Spaetzle in cold water after cooking it won't stick together. You can easily make this side dish a day or two ahead and then simply reheat it in a pan with a little butter.

While the ingredients to make the two are quite similar, the processes aren't so much. To make pasta, you form a firm dough that is kneaded, rested, rolled and shaped however you like. On the other hand, spaetzle is a sort of sticky, wet batter that doesn't hold it's shape like a ball of pasta dough would.

Spaetzle is basically a blank, buttery canvas that will absorb whatever flavorings you care to mix into it. I've served the dumplings plain with melted butter and chopped chives. I've crisped them in a pan of brown butter and almonds. I've topped them with hearty beef stew.

Spätzle is the Swabian and Alsacian diminutive of Spatz, thus literally "little sparrow". They are also known as Knöpfle (diminutive of button).

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the spaetzle to a colander and then plunge them in a bowl of very cold water. This firms them up to the desired consistency. Toss with olive oil or melted butter to keep from sticking. At this point, spaetzle will keep in the refrigerator 2 to 3 days until ready to serve.

But really, it's not difficult to make spaetzle at home, especially if you have a spaetzle maker. Although if you don't have one, don't fret! A colander with large holes will work almost as well and lets you enjoy fresh-made spaetzle any time you want!

Reheat spaetzle in a large sauté pan by frying with a little butter or olive oil and a splash of water. If you prefer buttery spaetzle add a few nuggets of butter to the pan at the end of reheating and toss to coat.

Can you freeze Spätzle? ›

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: Cooked German Spaetzle reheats very well and will keep for several days, stored in a container in the refrigerator. To Freeze: Homemade spaetzle freezes well for 3 or 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rewarming.

As the spaetzle gradually rise to the surface of the boiling water, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a serving dish. Serve immediately, while still warm.

Knoepfle is the Swiss version of Spaetzle, an drop noodle made of an egg noodle dough. It's our family tradition and they are the best holiday side dish recipe. It's kind of a labor of love but it's worth every second! I know, it's a weird word: Knoepfle.

The cold temperature of the refrigerator slows down the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms, helping to keep the batter fresh for a longer duration. Properly refrigerated, the batter can last for 1 to 2 days. Always prepare the batter with fresh and good-quality ingredients.

All-purpose flour does what it says on the tin, so it's perfectly fine to use for making pasta. However, most pasta recipes will recommend either semola or “00” flour. Your choice depends entirely on which pasta shape you're craving!

The ingredients required to make dried pasta include semolina flour and water. Eggs can be added for flavour and richness, but are not needed to make dried pasta.

Usually, Italian wheat flour is split into two large groups: Grano Tenero (soft wheat flour) and Grano Duro (hard wheat or semolina flour). All Italian wheat flour fits into these categories one way or another, but this classification doesn't apply to other grains.

One of the most popular flours for making pasta is semolina flour, which is a coarsely ground flour made from a particularly hard variety of wheat called durum. In fact, the word durum means hard (as in the word "durable"), in reference to the amount of force it takes to grind it.