Spaetzle Baked With Ham and Gruyere

Submitted by jessi_mcg

"This came to me in an email from Cooking Light and it looks like a fun adventure, especially the spaetzle making! Sounds like excellent comfort food for the fall so I am putting it here for safekeeping."

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 1 2⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 1⁄4 cups skim milk, divided
• 4 large eggs, divided
• 2 quarts water
• cooking spray
• 1 cup onion, chopped fine
• 3⁄4 cup turkey ham, diced (about 4 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3⁄4 cup gruyere cheese, shredded (3 ounces)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift together 1 2/3 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and baking powder. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 2 eggs, stirring with a whisk. Add milk mixture to flour mixture, stirring with a whisk until combined. Let stand 10 minutes.
3. Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a large saucepan. Hold a colander with large holes (about 1/4-inch in diameter) over boiling water; spoon about 1/2 cup dough into colander. Press the dough through holes with a rubber spatula (droplets will form spaetzle); set colander aside. Cook 3 minutes or until done (spaetzle will rise to surface). Remove with a slotted spoon; drain in a strainer (spaetzle will stick to a paper towel). Repeat procedure with remaining dough.
4. Heat a medium nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add onion; cook 5 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in ham. Combine spaetzle and onion mixture in a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray, tossing gently.
5. Combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons flour, and pepper, stirring with a whisk. Pour milk mixture over spaetzle mixture. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.

Reviews

[teresas]

We had mixed reviews on this one. DH loved it (with extra salt) so he gave it a 5 star. I thought it was missing something like a herb or spice of some kind (still thinking of which one). We both thought it was on the dry side. It was easy to prepare. I used my spaetzle maker. I do have to say I have never made spaetzle with baking powder before and really can't see why it was called for in the recipe. Overall it was enjoyed by us both. Thanks for posting. Made for 123 hit wonders cooking game. :)

 

[Lou van]

This was a great recipe (cooked as written) which DH and I really liked although my 5 yr old wasn't keen (she said she didn't like the noodles which is silly considering it is more or less the same recipe as our Yorkshire Puddings, just cooked differently; oh well shes a typical 5 yr old I suppose) Am looking forward to cooking this in Winter and eating it in front of an open fire in our cottage in Wales after a brisk walk in the hills :)

 

[sjkotylak]

Yummy! The spaetzle are like the ones my grandma made (and of course I had no recipe for since she never measured), but she never bothered with a colander - just had a trick with a little bowl and a butter knife, flicking them right in the water! Never thought to bake them though... Oh and I added A LOT of pepper because I love it on noodles... Made for ZWT #6!