What Is Spätzle (Spaetzle) and How to Cook the Perfect German Noodles

Spätzle is a German egg noodle pasta with a chewy, dumpling-like texture. The short noodles are usually irregularly shaped and made from a simple batter of eggs mixed with flour (all-purpose or semolina) and milk or water. Its name derives from the word spatz (“little sparrows”) but is also thought to mean “clump” in German.It’s known as spätzli in Switzerland and nokedli in Hungary. The short noodles are traditionally made by hand and can take many shapes, such as the smaller knöpfle (“little buttons”).

Spätzle come from Swabia, a historical European region of southwestern Germany that includes the present-day regions of southern Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Bavaria, and eastern Switzerland and Alsace, France. Spätzle is also eaten in Austria, Hungary, and Trentino–Alto Adige, Italy, where spätzle under many different names provide a starchy base for different regional braises and gravies.

• The classic German noodles recipe calls for sautéeing boiled spätzle in melted butter until golden, then garnishing with fresh herbs such as parsley, dill, or chives. Peas, caramelized onions or shallots, cheese, breadcrumbs, and bacon are all typical additions.
• In Hungary, spätzle is served as a side dish to accompany national favorites such as goulash and chicken paprikash.
• Spätzle is perfect for soaking up the liquids of a braise, such as Chef Thomas Keller’s Perfect Red Wine Braised Short Ribs.
• Try using spätzle as the base for a casserole, like käsespätzle, a German take on macaroni and cheese topped with fried onions.
• Sub spätzle for egg noodles in dishes like beef stroganoff or ragù.

A spätzle press is a handy tool that will form spätzle dough into their characteristic irregular shapes. If you don’t have one, there are a few other methods for making spätzle:

1. 1. The traditional method for making spätzle relies on a small wooden cutting board called a spätzlebrett (“spätzle board”). To make spätzle by hand the traditional way, dampen a small cutting board and spread spätzle dough on the edge of the board. Holding the board over a pot of boiling water, use a butter knife, offset spatula, or bench scraper to cut small pieces of dough into the hot water.
2. 2. Sit a colander with ¼-inch-wide holes over a pot of boiling water and push the spätzle dough through the colander using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. You can use the colander method with any heat-proof tool that has ¼-inch-wide holes, such as a potato ricer, box grater, or slotted spoon.
3. 3. An easy method, but one which won’t yield the iconic spätzle shape, is to drop spoonfuls of dough into boiling water. Use a metal spoon and wet the spoon between scoops to prevent sticking. This produces spätzle with a shape somewhere between gnocchi and tiny pancakes.

• The wetter the spätzle dough, the more delicate the flavor will be, but you want your spätzle to be thick enough to hold its shape. Add the milk gradually, until you have a moist dough that resembles thick pancake batter.
• Try wetting or oiling your spätzle maker, colander, or other tools, so that the dough won’t stick to the holes.
• Avoid making your spätzle too large, or they will fall apart while cooking.
• Work in batches, only boiling one layer of spätzle dough at a time, to prevent clumping.
• You can boil the spätzle the day before you plan to serve them, so that all you have to do before serving is sauté and garnish.