Granny’s German Spaetzle is an authentic spaetzle recipe passed down in a German family for generations. Make it with or without a spaetzle maker.
This recipe comes from my Granny. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Germany and this is the recipe they brought with them. Spaetzle is a small, soft dumpling/pasta that originates in the regions of Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland.
What do I do with spaetzle noodles?
Spaetzle noodles can be dressed up just like any other pasta with sauces and additional ingredients, or it can be served plain or sautéed in a little bit of butter. It’s a versatile little dumpling that can be as fancy or as simple as you’d like.
What is a spaetzle maker?
A spaetzle maker is a convenient device usually made of metal that’s sole purpose is for the making of small dumplings known as spaetzle. The metal plate has holes in it that you pour your spaetzle batter through directly into boiling water. You can find an abundance of spaetzle makers on Amazon. While convenient, you can use alternative devices for making spaetzle that you probably already have in your kitchen.
How do I make spaetzle without a spaetzle maker?
Absolutely! All you need is a metal kitchen device with holes in it. A colander or cheese grater plane will work great. Just hold the device over a pot of boiling water and pour your batter through. Sometimes it helps to use the back of a spoon or ladle to help push the batter through the holes.
What do I serve with spaetzle?
Watch the video below where we will walk you through every step of the recipe with a video demonstration.
You want to really kick it up a notch? Caramelize a bag of onions (thinly sliced). Put a layer of spatzlen in a large flat bowl, layer some of the onions on top, add a layer of sliced Swiss cheese, then repeat with another layer of spatzlen, onions, cheese, repeat until the bowl is full, and heat up so the cheese melts. Serve with a good gravy. To die for.
GREAT RECIPE. I MADE IT, AND IT WAS DELICIOUS.
WOULD LIKE MORE GERMAN RECIPES.
THANKS – NUALA
I’ve always made my mother in law’s recipe by putting the dough on a cutting board and thinly slicing it into the water. Much tastier than skinnier noodles.
Excellent!
The recipe was excellent and very easy to make. I had only eaten spaetzle one time before at a well-known German restaurant in my area and these tasted identical to the ones from there. This will be a staple in my household from now on!! I used a colander like in the video and it was definitely a two person job but the texture and size were great. Will be getting a spaetzle maker for the next time I plan to make this
I dropped mine into the boiling water and sauted them and ended up putting them in chicken soup…they are good in chicken soup