Spätzli The Swiss Pasta

Spaetzle maker and pasta ready to serve by LadyDuck

@LadyDuck (505471)

Italy

March 18, 2016 8:47am CST

A few days ago @Inlemay wrote a post mentioning the spätzli. Spätzli (or Knöpfle) are a kind of egg noodles served in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Hungary, as a side dish of meats prepared in sauce. The recipe of the dough is very simple. 1 egg per each person 100 grams flour for each egg 50 grams water and milk (25+25) for each egg A pinch of salt You mix everything together. Using a spaetzle press (or a potato ricer) you press the dough into salted boiling water. When the spaetzli come to the surface they are ready. To serve, melt two tablespoon of butter in a skillet, add the spaetzli, cook for a couple of minutes and serve. Today I have made spaetzle "Italian style" with cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil. It took 10 minutes from start to serving and they were delicious. Have you ever tried this kind of fresh pasta?

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58 responses

Peter B. Giblett

@pgiblett (6524)

• Canada

18 Mar 16

Oh! I have seen that dish but never knew how it was made, a kind of instant pasta. I want to give it a try.

6 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

Yes, the dough is softer than normal egg pasta, so you can press the dough directly into the boiling water.

5 people like this

Peter B. Giblett

@pgiblett (6524)

• Canada

18 Mar 16

@LadyDuck So I guess it takes less than 5 minutes to boil, once you press it into the boiling pan.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

@pgiblett Usually two or three minutes are enough.

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@Jeanniemaries (8237)

• United States

18 Mar 16

I have in German restaurants. I love it, especially with gravy. It sounds easy to make except for owning the spaetzle press. Maybe pushing it through a colander?

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

Yes, you can push the dough through a colander, sometimes I use the potato ricer.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

@Inlemay If you ask your friend to bring you the real deal, ask for this thing, it's the easier to use. You place it on the pot like a lid and you push the dough.

2 people like this

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

18 Mar 16

that is my predicament - but I have a plan - I have a friend coming from Europe soon, so will ask her to bring me the real deal

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@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

18 Mar 16

No I haven't tried this type of pasta but your picture of it looks terrific. I bet it is very yummy.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

I like home made pasta, and this dough is so easy to make.

2 people like this

@Marcyaz (35316)

• United States

18 Mar 16

@LadyDuck I see it is easy to make and looks good also.

1 person likes this

Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (44935)

• Preston, England

18 Mar 16

sounds good but pasta dishes always do for me

5 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

I also like pasta, not every day, but for lunch it's a quick and easy meal.

4 people like this

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

18 Mar 16

I love pasta in any way too

3 people like this

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

18 Mar 16

Sorry, I never tried this kind of pasta. But it does sound good.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

It's very easy and fast to make. Many time is served instead of mashed potatoes, with stews and meats with sauces.

2 people like this

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

18 Mar 16

How awesome for you to give me the full breakdown and recipe - I am going to try this as soon as I am over my flu. I will make an ox tail stew to serve with it, or maybe a Goulash again. The family loved it.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

I am sorry you caught a cold Lany. I have prepared the spaetzli today, but it has not been easy to press the dough using only one hand.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

@Inlemay I will look for your post about the Hockey tour.

2 people like this

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

18 Mar 16

@LadyDuck shame I can imagine, Did I ever tell you of the time - about 8 years ago when i went on a Hockey tour? Its a long story so I shall write a post. Look out for it

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@rebelann (118029)

• El Paso, Texas

27 Jul

I have never seen or tried it. It does sound tasty

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@rebelann (118029)

• El Paso, Texas

13h

May I remind you that you are a professional cook whereas I have no clue about that kind of cooking @LadyDuck This means what you might consider easy may be difficult for me ..... I never had to cook for anyone other than myself so I suppose in many ways I have simply been too lazy to learn.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

13h

I cooked during 55 years for my husband for our friends, for the family when they visited. I am slowing down now.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

27 Jul

Very easy to make and tasty.

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@TiarasOceanView (70020)

• United States

18 Mar 16

I have had some pasta made by my Grandmother but I do not recall what kind. It was delicious as this looks to me Anna. Thank you for sharing this wonderful simple recipe.

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@TiarasOceanView (70020)

• United States

18 Mar 16

@LadyDuck And why not, you make such beautiful dishes Anna.

Anna, how is your hand coming along my friend?

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

@TiarasOceanView I can use all my fingers except the thumb, it's not too bad. I still have a very big blister that takes almost all the palm of the hand. The doctor says not to burst it or I risk an infection. Anyway I have no more pain, it's not too bad.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

For lunch, we have pasta a couple of days a week, it's something we like.

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@Butchcass4 (5895)

• United States

23 Mar 16

No I've never heard of it but would like to know how to translate that recipe to cups do you know? I looks like a wonderful side dish!

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

24 Mar 16

Using an online grams to cup calculator I see that 100 grams are equal to 0.79 cups, 50 grams 0.39.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

27 Mar 16

@Butchcass4 I remember that the United States introduced the metric system in the 70s, but it seems that the population never adjusted to the International system.

1 person likes this

@Butchcass4 (5895)

• United States

26 Mar 16

@LadyDuck I have to go by cups like 1 cup to 1/3 cups for recipes otherwise I'm lost. I would like to try that recipe but I guess I'll just have to wing it LOL.

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@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

23 Mar 16

I have never made fresh pasta but your recipe sounds like it is very easy for someone like me.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

23 Mar 16

I believe that this is the easiest pasta recipe to make, I am sure you can make it.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

25 Mar 16

@simone10 I am sure you will succeed, it's not very hard to do.

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@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

25 Mar 16

@LadyDuck I'm going to have to try it and surprise my brother one day. I am bookmarking this post.

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@amadeo (111937)

• United States

18 Mar 16

that is where we are going tomorrow to get fresh pasta at the Tuscan Market.We called them gnocchi My sister makes this all the time when she was alive

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

I make gnocchi Alfredo, they are made with potatoes and flour, my husband loves gnocchi.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

@amadeo Enjoy your visit to the Tuscan Market.

@amadeo (111937)

• United States

18 Mar 16

@LadyDuck that is what we are going to buy and hopefully something else.I do like their noodles

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12069)

• United States

18 Mar 16

I ate those while in Europe. Glad I did. I loved them, but am now lactose intolerant and cannot eat them anymore.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

You can skip the milk and make the dough using only water. I used no butter today for my recipe.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

19 Mar 16

@ElizabethWallace My husband should not eat anything containing milk, so most of the time I do not use milk or butter. I made the sauce using olive oil and I used only water for the dough, you cannot feel the difference.

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12069)

• United States

19 Mar 16

@LadyDuck No kidding. Are they still yummy without milk or butter? Or do they taste like paste?

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@fishtiger58 (29819)

• Momence, Illinois

18 Mar 16

That sounds so good. I make an egg noodle from scratch, so good. It's really simple only 4 ingredients then boil in chicken broth.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

I always make the egg noddles at home and also a sort of dumpling that is pressed directly in chicken broth. The ingredients are only egg, Parmesan cheese, a tablespoon of bread crumbs and a little flour.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

19 Mar 16

@fishtiger58 It depends what I have to make, if I need to make ravioli or tortellini I cut rectangle shapes. If I have to make linguine it's a different matter, if I want to make maccheroni, I cut rectangles and I roll them one by one to shape them.

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@fishtiger58 (29819)

• Momence, Illinois

19 Mar 16

@LadyDuck I roll my egg noodles out and cut them into small rectangle shapes.

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@MarymargII (12422)

• Toronto, Ontario

18 Mar 16

I adore noodlea of any kind Anna and have seen these dried and in European stores. Your meal looks absolutely delicious so I'll be there shortly LOL!

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

You are right, they are sold dried, but the taste of the freshly made at home is so much better.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

@MarymargII I also lived almost 30 years in France, that has influenced my way of cooking.

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@MarymargII (12422)

• Toronto, Ontario

18 Mar 16

@LadyDuck Must be wonderful to combine the two nation's culinary recipes- You have the Swiss and the Italian influence and I have a feeling you are a super cook! Except for hurting your hand- ha! And I hope it feels better now.

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@lady1993 (27221)

• Philippines

25 Mar 16

I love any type of pasta, i've never seen this one in the supermarket though we only have macaroni, the normal ones, the shell and the twisted ones

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@lady1993 (27221)

• Philippines

25 Mar 16

@LadyDuck what do you mean make your own? like what they show on tv, the throwing the dough around?

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

25 Mar 16

@lady1993 Yes, I make the dough with eggs and flour, flatten the dough and cut the shapes of pasta I need.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

25 Mar 16

In Germany and Switzerland you can find this pasta in the supermarkets, but it's something you have to make your own, because it's good only if it's freshly made.

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Your Highness Emperor Albert Whisker

@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)

• Calgary, Alberta

19 Mar 16

There is a German pasta known as Spatzle and it looks very similar to this one. I tried making one on my own, using a can with holes. Yup I can customize with what is available.

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Your Highness Emperor Albert Whisker

@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)

• Calgary, Alberta

19 Mar 16

@LadyDuck You know what I love about this one, Unlike commercial pastas, this one is very fresh,

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

19 Mar 16

@CaptAlbertWhisker I agree, I also love to make fresh pasta at home, the taste is so much better.

Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61654)

• United States

19 Mar 16

I have never made any but have eaten it Germany and Austria and maybe even in Switzerland.

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Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61654)

• United States

19 Mar 16

@LadyDuck I don't eat venison so I would not have had it that way lol

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

20 Mar 16

@BelleStarr I also do not eat venison, this is why I served them Italian style.

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

19 Mar 16

They are served with venison stews all the time here in Switzerland, especially in the north, in the German speaking Switzerland.

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@Margielynn (693)

• United States

3 Apr 16

Yummy, I am going to save this in my Copy Me That app for recipes, thanks for sharing!

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

4 Apr 16

This is so quick and easy to make, but the taste is delicious.

1 person likes this

@Margielynn (693)

• United States

5 Apr 16

@LadyDuck I will certainly be trying this soon!

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@miniam (9151)

• Bern, Switzerland

18 Mar 16

Hope you enjoyed

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

18 Mar 16

Yes, I did. I believe you make spätzli in your Canton.

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

19 Mar 16

@miniam St. Gallen, north east, near the Lake Constance. I live in TI (Ticino), near the border with Italy.

@miniam (9151)

• Bern, Switzerland

18 Mar 16

@LadyDuck im From kanton SG, live in Kanton SO close to Bern

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@Dextoi (1845)

• Philippines

29 Mar 16

Wow! I've made pasta before but I did not add water nor milk. Maybe that made it too hard. I'll try it the way you made it... Are those ingredients from your garden?

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@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

29 Mar 16

Right now we have no tomatoes in the garden, it's still too cold, the basil is from my garden.

@LadyDuck (505471)

• Italy

29 Mar 16

@Dextoi I agree, fresh tomatoes make a much better sauce.

@Dextoi (1845)

• Philippines

29 Mar 16

@LadyDuck It's nice to have some organic fruits, vegetables and herbs in your garden. That really makes any dish special. I tried making pasta with organic tomatoes and they tasted a lot better than using tomato sauce... :)

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