Here is a simple and authentic German Spaetzle recipe that will make them taste and texture exactly as you remember and love them from the Swabia region of Southern Germany, one of the most popular and beloved food regions in the country.
Spaetzle, the well-known German egg noodles from the Baden-Württemberg region of southwest Germany, is one of the most cherished foods in Germany that visitors rave about upon returning home. This area is also known as Schwabenland, or Swabia. My mother and grandmother taught me how to make spaetzle as I was growing up in Stuttgart, the state capital of Baden-Württemberg.
Sixth-largest city in terms of population in Germany, Stuttgart has more than 600,000. It is a thriving industrial city that also boasts outstanding beauty and an impressive past. Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch, and the original VW Beetle prototype are all proudly made in Stuttgart. As one of Germany’s major wine-producing cities, Stuttgart has been making wine since 1108 A.D. D. when a Catholic monastery started making it. Aside from being the home of VfB Stuttgart, one of Germany’s top soccer teams, Stuttgart is also the birthplace of some of the greatest philosophers and literary giants. Stuttgart also has 3 beautiful castles.
The renowned Black Forest and its cuckoo clocks, the Swabian Alb, numerous rivers and lakes, and inspiring castles are all found in Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart, the nation’s capital, is the proud home of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch, the first Volkswagen Beetle prototype, numerous universities, eminent thinkers and authors, the VfB soccer team, a renowned Christmas market, and three stunning castles.
Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Tübingen, Ulm, Karlsruhe, and Mannheim are some of the other well-known cities in Baden-Württemberg. There is an endless list of things to do and see. It goes without saying that growing up in Baden-Württemberg was never boring, and I never took the splendor of the surroundings and the depth of the culture for granted.
Swabia is home to some of Germany’s best cuisine (many, including myself, will argue it is the best cuisine in all of Germany), so let’s talk about it. And that’s saying a lot considering how delicious German cuisine is throughout the country. To name a few, Swabia is renowned for its soups, sauces, meats, wursts, and salads. Additionally, it is the origin of several distinctive pasta varieties, such as Spätzle, Schupfnudeln, and Maultaschen, a special variety of Swabian ravioli that is another well-known and adored dish.
We’re highlighting Spätzle today, a Swabian specialty that’s also popular in Austria and Switzerland. A special kind of egg noodle known as spaetzle is consumed with sauces and gravies and used in a variety of different dishes. Käsespätzle, a casserole of cheese spatzle and fried onions, is one instance.
The name “Spätzle” comes from the German word “Spatzen,” which translates to “little sparrows,” as that is what people thought they looked like when they were traditionally made by hand.
Step 2 – Scrape the Spaetzle
If you have a spaetzle maker, use it now because you’re ready to make some macaroni. These come in a variety of sizes and materials, but typically have a top piece for pouring the dough into and a bottom piece that resembles a box grater and has holes for extruding the dough.
It’s easy to use other multipurpose kitchen tools that you already have on hand, as I am doing here, if you don’t have one of these. Grab a long chef’s knife, a cutting board, and a bench scraper.
What you want to do is scrape a thin stripe of thick batter to the board’s edge and then drop it into the pot of boiling water. Once you’ve used up all of the mixture, keep doing this.
Spaetzle: Dumpling or Noodle?
No German would ever agree that spaetzle are tiny dumplings, despite the fact that many people outside of Germany do so. Teigwaren, which is how the Germans define Spätzle and is what we would call “pasta” in English
The spaetzle dough is scraped from a special spaetzle board or dripped into the simmering water using a spaetzle press, unlike pasta, which is dried first.
To learn how to say “Spätzle” in German, listen to the following audio file. click play button to listen.
Step 1 – Prepare the Dough
It’s time to prepare the dough as you heat up a sizable pot of salted water on the stove.
To begin, sift the flour into a sizable mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. In another smaller bowl, combine the eggs, salt, and water. I like to use a large balloon whisk to thoroughly combine these.
Add the egg mixture to the flour gradually, whisking well after each addition. Continue mixing the batter until it is well aerated, bubbly, and free of any flour clumps.
FAQ
What is the difference between spaetzle and egg noodles?
The unique egg noodle Spätzle is frequently eaten as a side dish with gravies or sauces but is also the star ingredient in other dishes, such as the well-known Käsespätzle. The entire family will enjoy this simple but delicious side dish if you toss them with a little bit of melted butter.
How do you know when spaetzle is done?
Spaetzle float to the top when done. The spaetzle will float to the top of the water after two to three minutes of gentle boiling. When they do that, you know that they are done. In the boiling water, the spaetzle could become runny and extremely soft if your batter is too thin to begin with.
Can you overcook spaetzle?
Spaetzle won’t ever be as “al dente” as great Italian pasta if you overcook it. But they can be overcooked. They are prone to quickly turning squishy and mushy instead of fluffy and light. Cooking time for fresh spaetzle should be no more than two minutes.
How do you heat spaetzle?
- Saute: Saute in a saucepan with a little butter. …
- While not my preferred method, nuking the spaetzle in the microwave until they are hot is effective.
- Boil: Or, to warm up the already-cooked spaetzle, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the spaetzle; cook for just one minute.
