Spaetzle (traditionally written in German as sp\u00e4tzle) is a hybrid somewhere between a dumpling and a noodle. They are typically made with eggs, flour, and salt, but water should be added if you are looking for a thinner dough.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, sp\u00e4tzle are made by cutting the dough into little bitesize pieces and then cooking them in a pot of boiling salted water. Once the pieces rise to the surface of the water, they are skimmed and put aside until ready to serve.<\/p>\n
Due to the preparation and cooking process taking a long time, there were several utensils created to simplify the process and cut down the time. Three of the most widely used devices are:<\/p>\n
A strainer type (sp\u00e4tzlesieb)
\nA Grater type (sp\u00e4tzlehobel)
\nA Ricer (or a Press) (type sp\u00e4tzlepresse)<\/p>\n
This article aims to describe all three of these products while providing recommendations on which is best for you to begin your sp\u00e4tzle making-journey at home.<\/p>\n
Strainer Type Spaetzle Makers<\/p>\n
These devices use a round screen, typically made out of plastic or stainless steel, which has holes that will cut the dough into the required size – usually 0.3 inches in diameter.<\/p>\n
Cooking the sp\u00e4tzle is a fairly easy process with this type of device, simply place the screen over a pot of boiling water, and then place the dough on top of the screen. Using a scraper, or anything of that nature, the dough is pressed through the holes and will drop into the pot. Let the sp\u00e4tzle cook, you will know it is done when it rises to the surface of the water, and then take them out and reserve for serving.<\/p>\n
When looking for a good strainer type of sp\u00e4tzle maker, there is no one better than the German brand, K\u00fcchenprofi. K\u00fcchenprofi\u2019s sp\u00e4tzle maker has a specialised rim that is able to fit over any size of pot you may have. The device comes with a scraper, so you do not need to worry about finding one, and the device has a diameter of 10.5 inches. On top of this, it is dishwasher safe and is made of 18\/10 stainless steel.<\/p>\n
Grater Type Spaetzle Makers<\/p>\n
This piece of equipment consists of two separate parts; a dough box, and a rectangular plate with holes for grating on the top (imagine a cheese or vegetable grater.) There are longitudinal tracks for the dough box to slide back and forth on, this ensures accurate and uniform preparation. The plate is typically 30 centimeters in length and made of plastic or stainless steel.<\/p>\n
Making sp\u00e4tzle with this device is almost the exact same as using a strainer-type device. Place your dough into the box while the plate is above a pot of boiling water, and then guide the box back and forth on the tracks to push it through. The tracks ensure that all your sp\u00e4tzle are the same size and shape when they fall into the water.<\/p>\n
The dough\u2019s viscosity and the speed with which you use the grater are important factors in how long your sp\u00e4tzle will be. Once again, the German brand, K\u00fcchenprofi, is the best choice, as they also make grater-type sp\u00e4tzle makers. As with the strainer device, they are made with 18\/10 stainless steel and are dishwasher safe. They are 4\u00bd inches wide by 12 inches long.<\/p>\n
Ricer (or Press) Type Sp\u00e4tzle Makers<\/p>\n
Another product that helps in making the production of sp\u00e4tzle much faster and easier, a ricer type sp\u00e4tzle maker can be the more expensive option. This device uses the process of pressure, applied from top-down, to create a fast and simple way to produce sp\u00e4tzle. Typically, it is a small pot with holes on the bottom, this is where the dough goes, and then a handle\/lever is attached which is what applies pressure on the dough.<\/p>\n
Although these types of devices can be used for making other kinds of food, such as mashed potatoes, you should never use a product designed for mashed potatoes to make sp\u00e4tzle. Sp\u00e4tzle requires specific sizes of holes to be pushed through, and by using a different device, you would be left with large globs of dough rather than delicate sp\u00e4tzle.<\/p>\n
Germany produces the best ricer-type sp\u00e4tzle makers on the market, a popular favourite of Amazon customers is the Westmark Germany Classic sp\u00e4tzle maker which comes with the following features:<\/p>\n
The maker itself is able to hold a large amount of dough, and the layout design of the holes will result in classic sp\u00e4tzle.
\nIt is durable; made of coated aluminum, and is 400 x 85 x 110 millimeters.
\nThe two separate parts can be easily dismantled which makes for easier cleaning.
\nThe flattened handle makes for easy gripping, while three grooves allow the device to grip onto any size of pot.
\nOn top of sp\u00e4tzle, it can also be used to make mashed potatoes and purees. It can also be used as a fruit press\/<\/p>\n
A Quick Sp\u00e4tzle Recipe<\/p>\n
Ingredients:
\n3 cups of flour
\n4 eggs
\n\u00bd cup of water
\n1 teaspoon of salt<\/p>\n
Preparation Method:
\nFill a pot with water, add salt and bring to a boil.
\nCombine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix them well until you see air bubbles.
\nMake sure to rinse your sp\u00e4tzle press with cold water before adding the dough. (When making large quantities of sp\u00e4tzle, rinse the press in between filling.)
\nFill the device with your dough.
\nSlowly press the dough through the press into the boiling water. For short sp\u00e4tzle, hold the press 2 to 3 inches above the water, for long sp\u00e4tzle, hold it 4 to 5 inches above.
\nOnce the sp\u00e4tzle rises to the top of the water, skim them out with a spoon and rinse them in water.
\nSet them aside and they are ready for serving!
\nClean your device immediately after use, using cold water to thoroughly rinse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Spaetzle (traditionally written in German as sp\u00e4tzle) is a hybrid somewhere between a dumpling and a noodle. They are typically … <\/p>\n