Our story began in the 1800’s in the Hempler’s family sausage kitchen in Borken, Germany. Though things have changed over the years, we still find a great deal of identity in our European roots. It shows in our family’s holiday traditions, dishes at our potluck gatherings, and the products we choose to produce through our company.
Today we want to bring you a traditional German side dish – spaetzle! Spaetzle is a dumpling-like rustic egg noodle that is a great vehicle for heavy sauces and gravies, topped with stew or pot roast, or simply pan-fried with butter and seasonings to serve alongside your favorite Hempler’s sausage.
If you’re feeling particularly decadent, you can use it to make Kaesespaetzle, which is basically Germany’s answer to mac ‘n’ cheese.
Spaetzle is typically made using a special kitchen gadget called a spaetzle press. However, if you don’t have one you can still make this dish – just drop little bits of dough into the boiling water piece by piece. It definitely takes longer, but if you engage the whole family in the activity it becomes an authentic international experience. Now on to the recipe!
Combine the following in a large bowl:
- 4 cups of flour
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 cup water
Mix until well combined; dough should be sticky. Add more water if necessary.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 Tb. oil and 2 tsp. salt. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and drop pieces of spaetzle dough into the water, being careful not to crowd the pot. When it floats (after about 2 minutes), remove with a slotted spoon and dip into warm water. Then transfer to a dry bowl while you work through the rest of the dough in batches.
Once you’ve finished your noodles, get creative! The internet is full of great sausage & spaetzle recipes; find the best one to feature your favorite variety of Hempler’s!