Tiny German Dumplings Spaetzle

Spaetzle, "little sparrows," are very like hornli, "little horns," and knopfli, "little buttons." They are all tiny dumplings, very popular in Germany and Switzerland. A plateful of these lovely golden nuggets can be a meal in itself, with salad and wine. Otherwise, serve them with chicken, game, or meat. The purchase of a spaetzle mill will simply the procedure of make them, although you can certainly make do with a large-hole colander, or even a wooden board and a sharp knife

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 3  cups all-purpose flour
• 4  eggs
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 3  grindings black pepper
• 1  cup warm water
• 4  quarts salt water, approximately
• 1⁄4 cup butter

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour with the eggs, salt, pepper, and warm water.
2. Beat hard with a wooden spoon to form a thick, smooth batter.
3. Continue beating for 5 minutes.
4. This should be done rather energetically, by scraping the dough toward you with a regular rhythm, so as to incorporate as much air as possible.
5. Let the dough rest, covered, for 15 minutes.
6. Bring the salted water to a boil.
7. If you are using a spaetzle mill, simply push the dough through it into the boiling salted water.
8. If you do not have a mill, balance a colander (the largest you own) on the rim of the pot in which the water is boiling.
9. Make sure that the water is at least 8 inches below the colander or the dough will simply congeal from the steam.
10. Use a large wooden spoon to press the dough through the holes in the colander into the water.
11. A third alternative is to add a little more flour to the dough (about 1/2 cup) to stiffen it.
12. Remove the dough to a floured board and with a sharp knife slice it into strips about 1/4 inch wide and 1/2 inch long.
13. Boil the spaetzle for 4 minutes.
14. Drain in a large colander, and rinse briefly under cold running water.
15. Drain.
16. *Melt the butter in an ovenproof skillet.
17. Saute the spaetzle for 3 to 4 minutes, then place the skillet in a 350°F.
18. oven and bake for 10 minutes.
19. Serves 6 to 8.
20. NOTES AND VARIATIONS:*You can make the spaetzle ahead up to this point.
21. Spread them out on a kitchen towel and cover them with a damp towel.
22. They will keep for several hours.
23. The Dumpling Cookbook.