Spätzle: Soft egg noodles, often served with cheese or gravy

Welcome to a cozy culinary experience where we rediscover an Old-World delight with a new-world twist. I'm Chef John from Food Wishes, and today I present to you our take on a German favorite: Spätzle. While they may be technically considered dumplings, think of these as the world's easiest free-form pasta. Let's get started on a batch of warm, butter-toasted Spätzle that will quickly become a go-to comfort food in your kitchen.

Ingredients:

- All-purpose flour (quantity to be adjusted for batter consistency)

- 1 large egg

- Salt, to taste

- A pinch of cayenne (optional, but recommended)

- 1 spoon of crème fraîche (or sour cream or yogurt)

- A splash of whole milk (quantity to be adjusted for batter consistency)

- Butter for toasting

- Water and additional salt for boiling

Instructions:

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Equipment: Mixing bowl, whisk, spatula, cheese grater (with large holes), large pot, slotted spoon or strainer

Serving: 2-3

1. **Make the Batter:**

In a mixing bowl, combine enough all-purpose flour with the egg, salt, cayenne, crème fraîche or sour cream, and milk. Stir until smooth. Aim for a batter that thickly drips off a whisk, rather than running off. If the batter is too thin, add more flour; if too thick, add more milk until desired consistency is reached.

2. **Prepare the Butter:**

Before cooking the Spätzle, melt some butter in a skillet over medium heat, cook it swirling occasionally until it turns golden brown (toast to your preference).

3. **Boil Water:**

Fill a large pot with water, salt generously, and bring to a rolling boil.

4. **Extrude Spätzle:**

Place a standard cheese grater (use the smooth side) over the pot of boiling water. Add a few spoonfuls of batter onto the grater and use your spatula to push it through into the boiling water. Work in batches to prevent overcrowding.

5. **Cook the Spätzle:**

Spätzle will cook quickly and float to the top once done. As they float up, remove with a slotted spoon or strainer and transfer them directly into the skillet with the melted butter.

6. **Brown the Spätzle:**

Once all the Spätzle are cooked and added to the butter, gently stir to get them coated and lightly toasted.

7. **Serve:**

This Spätzle is fantastic as a side dish or as a base for other entrees such as stews or sauced meats.

Cooking Tips:

- Texture Check: If the batter drips through without pushing, it's too runny, add flour.

- Flavor Variation: Experiment by toasting the butter to your liking, or by incorporating fresh herbs or garlic.

**Servings:** Adjust the recipe up or down depending on the number of guests.

Enjoy this delightful recipe and make sure to visit Food Wishes on YouTube for more mouth-watering dishes. Bon Appetit!

#comfortfood #recipe #homemadepasta

YouTube channel - Food Wishes: https://www.youtube.com/@foodwishes

Spätzle: Soft egg noodles, often served with cheese or gravy