There are classic dishes of the Teutonic culinary tradition which, with their intense and distinctive flavour, are particularly enticing and suitable for the winter months, ideal as side dishes or even as a less formal main meal for lunch or dinner. Today we have chosen a lovely recipe for spätzli, the famous small dumplings that come from the Austrian, German and Swiss cuisines; we have jazzed up the ingredients a little to make the final result even more flavourful. In our version of spätzli we have added delicious ingredients such as cream, bacon, mushrooms and spinach, which together create the perfect combination for accompanying a main course dish in winter. Are you ready to try your hand at making this Teutonic delicacy? Follow our recipe and you’re sure to get an amazing result!
* approximate values per serving
Prepare the spätzli as follows: in a bowl, mix together the eggs, chopped spinach, milk, oil and salt with an electric hand whisk. Now add the flour a tablespoon at a time and continue to mix with the electric whisk. Place the mixture in a freezer bag which you will subsequently use as a piping bag by cutting off one corner. Over a pan of boiling salted water, cut small pieces of dough from the bag with scissors as the dough comes out of the corner of the bag. When the spatzli rise up from the bottom to the surface it means that they are ready; drain and set aside on a plate. Now prepare the sauce: in a saucepan melt the butter and fry the cubed speck ham, the mushrooms and the drained and rinsed spatzli. After half a minute, add the cream and mix everything thoroughly, add salt and pepper, mix again and when the cream starts to thicken you'll have a tasty mountain dish!
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Blanch the spinach, drain and squeeze the water out, chop it up and transfer to a bowl
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Add the eggs to the spinach
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Whisk together well the spinach and the egg
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Salt the mixture well
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Add the milk to the mixture
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Add the flour to the mixture one spoon at a time
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Put the mixture in a freezer bag which you can subsequently cut off one corner
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Here is how our chef makes the green dumplings: squeeze out a little of the mixture through the hole in the corner, and cut off a portion every 2cm or so. Allow them to drop into boiling salted water
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Once cooked, the dumplings will rise to the surface, then drain them and set aside. Continue to make them in this way until the mixture is used up
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Drain the dumplings and put them to one side on a plate
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Melt plenty of butter in a frying pan
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Add the cubed speck to the frying pan and brown them
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Add the mushrooms to the pan and continue cooking
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Add the spätzli to the frying pan and cook a little more
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Add a little fresh cream and reduce the sauce
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A delicious variant of spatzli is the one prepared with canned mushrooms and cooking cream. This recipe enriches the dish with creamy flavors and a touch of umami. To make it, after preparing the basic dough with eggs, spinach, milk, and flour, you can add the well-drained mushrooms and the cream. Once the spatzli are cooked, they can be sautéed in a pan with butter and speck, creating a rich and substantial dish. The addition of cream makes everything even more enveloping, perfect for those who love intense flavors. This dish can be served as a first course or as a main dish, ideal for a family dinner or with friends.
For a more traditional interpretation, spatzli can be prepared the Swiss way, using speck and butter. This variant enhances the richness of the typical flavors of Swiss cuisine, where the speck gives a smoky note and the butter makes the dish even tastier. After cooking the spatzli, they can be sautéed in a pan with melted butter and crispy speck, creating a perfect pairing. Serve them hot, perhaps accompanied by a fresh salad, to balance the richness of the dish. This preparation is ideal for a winter lunch or a rustic dinner, capable of satisfying even the most discerning palates.
For those looking for a lighter version of spatzli, it is possible to prepare a light recipe by eliminating the butter and reducing the amount of flour. Using only eggs, milk, and spinach, you can obtain a lighter dough while still maintaining the enveloping taste. Once cooked, the spatzli can be dressed with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of pepper, to enhance the natural flavors. This variant is perfect for those who want to maintain a healthy diet without giving up the pleasure of a good dish. Also suitable for those following a dietary regimen, this preparation offers an excellent source of protein and vitamins, thanks to the spinach.
Spatzli, thanks to the main ingredients like eggs and spinach, offer numerous nutritional benefits. Eggs are an excellent source of high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals, while spinach is rich in iron, calcium, and antioxidants. This combination not only promotes muscle and bone health but also supports the immune system. On average, a serving of traditional spatzli contains about 350-400 calories, depending on the ingredients used and the portions. By choosing lighter or vegetable-enriched variants, it is possible to adjust the calorie content and make the dish healthier without compromising on taste.
Storing spatzli is simple and practical. If there is leftover dough, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days, sealed in an airtight container. However, for longer storage, spatzli can be frozen. After cooking them, just let them cool completely and then place them in a freezer bag, making sure to remove excess air. In this way, they can be stored for up to three months. When ready to use, simply thaw them in the refrigerator and reheat them in a pan with a bit of butter or oil, to restore their original texture and delicious taste.