Recipe courtesy of Vanessa Preast, Co-op Member and Self-taught Cook
Prepare these versatile dumplings like pasta. Add pasta sauce, bake with cheese, or sauté with vegetables.

Spaetzle Batter

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour (all-purpose or whole wheat) 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk or water
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp nutmeg (or onion powder, garlic powder, tomato powder, pepper powder, herbs, etc.)
  • 1 pinch ground pepper

Directions
1. Mix together eggs and dry ingredients.
2. Add milk a little at a time while stirring until the mixture is a smooth thick batter. It’s the right consistency when it takes 4-5 seconds to drip off a wooden spoon.
3. Continue to stir to ensure the batter is smooth and fully hydrated.
4. In batches, press dough through spaetzle maker (or sieve with large holes) into a pot of simmering, salted liquid.
5. Simmer for about 3-5 minutes or until the dumplings float to the top.
6. Scoop dumplings into a colander to drain.
7. Prepare the cooked dumplings in your preferred method and serve.

Buttered Spaetzle

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup cooked spaetzle

Directions
1. Melt butter in a pan.
2. Add cooked spaetzle and saute until the dumplings are a bit browned.
3. Garnish and serve.

Breadcrumb Spaetzle

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1/3 cup bread or cracker crumbs
  • 1½ cups cooked spaetzle

Directions
1. Melt butter in a pan.
2. Brown the crumbs in the butter.
3. Add spaetzle and sauté to desired doneness.
4. Serve.

Cheese Spaetzle

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
  • 1½ cups cooked spaetzle

Directions
1. Melt butter in a large skillet on medium-high.
2. Add onion, and cook until golden.
3. Stir in spaetzle.
4. Add cheese and stir until well blended.
5. Remove from heat, and serve immediately.

Pesto Asparagus Spaetzle

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • ¼ pound asparagus, bite-size pieces
  • 1 tbsp melted butter + 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1½ cups cooked spaetzle

Directions
1. Over medium-high heat sauté asparagus in butter and oil until nearly tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
2. Add the spaetzle and heat through.
3. Remove from the heat, add the pesto, and stir to mix well. Serve immediately.