Spätzle, often written as Spaetzle, meaning 'little sparrow', are a type of soft egg noodles. The noodles can are made in Southern parts of Germany, and also has variations in Hungarian, Austrian, Alsatian, and South Tyrol cuisines. Nowadays, the spätzle is called a 'Swabian specialty' and cooked with many German dishes. The traditional method of preparing spätzle is by using a knife to scrape the dough off a chopping board. The dough is added to boiling water that has been seasoned with salt. Once the spätzle is thoroughly cooked, they rise and float on the surface. Apart from the traditional technique, the spätzle is also made using a special spätzle press that are available in stores.
Different Recipes to Make Spätzle
As you go through the recipes below, remember that the spätzle is always prepared fresh, unless you purchase a store-bought variety. If you wish to prepare spätzle at home, the first recipe provides you with all the necessary information.
Homemade Spätzle Noodles
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Ingredients- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2¼ cups All-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup milk
- Salt, for boiling water
Directions
To prepare spätzle, you require the special spätzle press. In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, onion powder, and celery salt together in a bowl. In a different bowl, beat the eggs along with milk. Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients to prepare a slightly stiff, yet smooth batter. Boil a large pot of salted water and place the batter over the spätzle press. Slowly, you will push the batter through the press and into the boiling water. If a spätzle press is not available, you can use a rubber spatula to push the batter through a large-holed colander. Cook the spätzle in boiling water for approximately five minutes and drain it in a colander once they begin to float on top. Now, we will sauté it in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the softened butter to the skillet and add the spätzle. Let the butter coat the spätzle properly. You will know that the spätzle is ready once a few sides will turn golden brown. Remove the skillet from heat, pour the spätzle on to a serving bowl, and serve.
You can garnish it with chopped parsley and black pepper.
Käsespätzle (Cheese Spätzle with Fried Onions)
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 mins
Ingredients -
Spätzle- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2¼ cups All-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup milk
- Salt, for boiling water
Ingredients -
Caramelized onions- 2 onions, julienne
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoons butter
Ingredients -
Casserole- 1½ cups Emmental cheese, shredded
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, grated
- Butter, for casserole
- Breadcrumbs, for casserole
Directions
To prepare caramelized onions, take a nonstick pan and add the butter to it. Keep the heat on low and add the julienne onions. Stir the onion every few minutes and let it caramelize (lightly brown). Meanwhile, cook the spätzle as instructed in the recipe above (Homemade Spätzle Noodles). Once the spätzle and onions are ready, we will prepare the casserole. Preheat the oven at 350° F. Take a 2 quart casserole dish and line it with butter and breadcrumbs. Add the spätzle and the caramelized onions on top. Sprinkle nutmeg and Emmental cheese evenly. Mix all the ingredients, if you wish, or let the cheese be the topmost layer. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or till the cheese turns golden brown. Remove the dish from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes.
To serve, you can either place the entire casserole dish out or mix everything together.
German Spätzle with Sauerkraut
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour
Ingredients -
Spätzle- 8 eggs, beaten
- 4¼ cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup butter
Ingredients -
Casserole- 4 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 can sauerkraut
- ½ cup butter
Directions
Cook the spätzle as instructed in the recipe above (Homemade Spätzle Noodles). Once the spätzle is ready, place it on a pan and add a layer of sauerkraut on top. You can make as many layers as you want. Place the lid on top to keep the spätzle warm. In a different pan, we will melt the butter and add all the breadcrumbs in. Toss properly to soften the breadcrumbs. Add this over the spätzle and mix together. Serve immediately.
Garnish with chives or parsley leaves.
Spätzle and Chicken Soup
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 mins
Ingredients -
Spätzle- 5 eggs, beaten
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ cup water
Ingredients -
Soup- 3 lbs. chicken
- 2 cans chicken broth
- 2 yellow onions, quartered
- 1 celery bunch, cubes w/leaves
- 1 package baby carrots
- Salt and black pepper, for taste
- Parsley leaves, chopped for garnish
Directions
In a pot, place the whole chicken submerged in water. Add chicken broth, celery, onions, salt, black pepper, and garlic salt in. Turn the heat on medium-low and let the water come to a boil. Place the lid on and cook the chicken for an hour; it needs to be cooked thoroughly till it becomes tender. Once ready, remove from the pot and onto a platter to cool down. Strain the broth and discard the celery and onions. Place the broth back into the same pot and onto the stove. With a fork or with your fingers, remove chicken meat from the bones. Chop the pieces into bite-size pieces and place into the pot with the broth. Turn the heat on, keep it low, and let the mixture come to a boil. Next, add the carrots. Cook the spätzle as instructed in the recipe above (Homemade Spätzle Noodles). But instead of cooking the spätzle separately, add it to the chicken broth. When the carrots are tender and the spätzle is cooked properly, pour the hot soup into bowls and serve. Garnish with chopped parsley leaves.
German Spätzle Dumplings
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Ingredients- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
- 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup All-purpose flour
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ground
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Black pepper
Directions
Cook the spätzle as instructed in the recipe above (Homemade Spätzle Noodles). But instead of pressing the dough through the spätzle press, keep it over a chopping board and cut big pieces with a knife, cook in water. Once the spätzle is cooked, take a pan and add 1 tablespoon butter to it. As the butter melts, add the spätzle in along with green onions and chives. Cook till the spätzle turns slightly golden brown. Remove from the heat, pour onto a plate, and sprinkle black pepper before serving.
You can serve it with any kind of meat that you're preparing.
These were some of the tasty German Spätzle noodle recipes you can try at home. As you read, the recipes aren't very difficult and won't take much of your time in the kitchen. Always serve the Spätzle immediately after it's cooked.
