German Customs and Traditions

Spätzle

History/Etymology• Spätzle is a Swabian Dish, Swabia is a region

of Germany.

• Spätzle can be found in writing from 1725, but also can be found in Medieval illustrations.

• In 1821, Russian Troops marched through Germany, they attempted to steal a Spätzle recipe and the Germans fought back.

• They were once an integral part in the daily diet of the Swabian poor people.

• Spätzle can now be found commercially produced in the long/thin noodle form.

Packaged Spätzle

All About Spätzle

• Spätzle literally translates to “little sparrow”.• There are two kinds of Spätzle: button-shaped/Knoepfle

and elongated noodle. • Spätzle is not only popular in Germany, but also in

Austria and Switzerland. • Spätzle is a dish of tiny noodles or dumplings primarily

made with flour, eggs, salt, and water or milk. Spices can be added for flavoring; nutmeg, dill, paprika, and caraway are common choices.

• For certain specialty dishes, the dough may be enriched with minced pork liver (resulting in Leberspätzle), spinach, or finely grated cheese.

Speck

Äpfel und Speisepilze

Zwiebel

Spätzle as a Dish

• You begin by making a small dough that will not flow or run off a spoon. Letting it cool for thirty minutes.

• The next step is to shape the dough; usually with a Spätzle Press. You place the press above a pot of boiling water so that the shaped dough falls into the pot.

• The original method to shaping Spätzle was to spread the dough out over a table and cut the pieces out with a knife.

• After they float to the surface, you drain and toss them with melted butter and seasonings.

• Spätzle is commonly served as a side dish to a beef or veal stew.

Spätzle!

(Long Noodle)

Were you Listening?

1. What is Spätzle’s true origin?a) Austriab) Germanyc) Switzerland

2. What does Spätzle actually mean?a) Little Sparrowb) Yummy Pastac) Spaghetti

Were you right?

1. B, Germany, Although many areas claim to be the originators, Spätzle is German in origin.

2. A, Little Sparrow, they were shaped by hand or with a spoon and the results resembled Little Sparrows.

Citation

• http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/03/spaetzle/• http://foodhavens.yolasite.com/index/spatzle• http://www.kitchenemporium.com/info/recip

e_spaetzle.html