Chicken Noodle Dumpling Spaetzle Soup Recipes

SPAETZLE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir the flour, eggs, milk and salt until smooth (dough will be sticky). In a large saucepan over high heat, bring water to a boil. Pour dough into a colander or spaetzle maker coated with cooking spray; place over boiling water. , With a wooden spoon, press dough until small pieces drop into boiling water. Cook for 2 minutes or until dumplings are tender and float. Remove with a slotted spoon; toss with butter. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.

CHICKEN SOUP WITH SPAETZLE

Steps:

• In a large kettle or Dutch oven, brown chicken pieces in oil. Add the broth, bay leaves, thyme and pepper. Bring to a boil; skim foam. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45-60 minutes or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken and set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove meat from bones; discard bones and skin and cut chicken into bite size pieces. Cool broth and skim off fat., Return chicken to broth along with the carrots, celery, onion, garlic and barley. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 35 minutes. Add mushrooms and simmer 8-10 minutes longer. Remove bay leaves. , In a small bowl, combine first three spaetzle ingredients. Stir in the egg, water and milk; blend well. Drop batter by 1/2 teaspoonfuls into simmering soup. Cook for 10 minutes.

SPAETZLE AND CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Place chicken in a stock pot, and add enough water to cover. Pour in the chicken broth, and add celery and onions. Season with salt, pepper and garlic salt. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 1 hour to get a good broth.
• When the chicken is cooked through and tender, remove it to a platter and let sit until it is cool enough to handle. Strain broth, and discard celery and onions. Return the broth to the stock pot. Remove chicken meat from the bones, chop or tear into pieces, then return it to the pot also. Bring the broth to a boil, and add carrots.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the eggs, water and salt. Gradually add flour until the dough is firm enough to form a ball. You may need more or less flour. Pat the dough out on a flat plate. Using a butter knife, cut slices of dough off the edge of the plate so they are about 2 to 3 inches long. Allow them to fall directly into the boiling broth.
• Once the carrots are tender, the soup is ready. Sprinkle with parsley flakes and serve.

GERMAN DUMPLINGS (SPAETZLE OR KNIFFLES) FOR SOUP OR SAUTE

Steps:

• Mix these together until sticky.
• Drop into bubbling soup or stew, broth or water. (see below for ideas).
• Dumplings will rise to the surface as they cook; remove from liquid with a slotted spoon (if sautéing in another pan); set aside in a bowl (keep warm).
• MAKE THE DUMPLINGS #1: This method results in very small, stringy-ish dumplings and is great for soups or stews. Spoon several tablespoons of batter into a colander, then with the back of the spoon--press the batter through the holes into the bubbling liquid.
• METHOD #2: This method forms larger dumpling pieces (dime & quarter size) and is great for soups or stews, too -- but especially good if you want to saute the dumplings afterwards (more on that in a minute). Using a teaspoon and butter knife, scoop up a spoonful of batter, then use the knife to cut off little dibs and dabs, using the knife to also push the dibs into the hot liquid. If the knife or spoon gets messy, just dip into the hot liquid.
• SERVING IDEAS: We love these in chicken-dumpling soup (use your regular chicken soup recipe -- skip the egg noodles and make these dumplings instead). OR scoop out the larger dumplings (Method #2), and saute in butter or olive oil along with kielbasa or other sausage and LOTS of onion ring slices. OR saute some fresh veggies, then add the dumplings -- heaven!
• VARIATIONS: Add several pinches of your favorite herbs along with the flour to enhance the soup, stew or saute dish.
• Chef's Note: Altho' this is kind of putzy, it is well worth the effort and SO different from regular pasta-noodles.

FARMHOUSE CHICKEN SOUP WITH SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Place the chicken, water and broth into a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Meanwhile, melt butter in a preheated skillet; add the onion, celery and carrots. Saute on medium heat for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another two minutes. Add the sauteed onion, celery, carrots and garlic to the boiling stock. Add salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until chicken is tender and broth is flavorful.
• Remove chicken from broth; cool. Skim fat from broth. Remove meat from bones; discard bones and skin. Cut meat into bite-size pieces; return to broth. Cover and simmer while preparing spaetzle.
• For spaetzle, combine the flour, salt, baking powder and nutmeg in a small bowl. Stir in the eggs, milk and parsley; blend well. With a rubber spatula, push batter through a large-hole grater or colander into the simmering soup. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until spaetzle float to the top.

CHICKEN (...NOODLE, DUMPLING, SPAETZLE) SOUP

Steps:

• Add 8 rounded tsp. Better Than Bouillon to 8 cups of very hot water and set aside.
• Chop carrots, onion and celery and add to large soup kettle. Add prepared bouillon and pepper to pot. Then add chicken thighs, skin side down.
• Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a high simmer and continue cooking, loosely covered, for 60-90 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. (Depending on how big your pieces of chicken are.) Skim foam and discard, if necessary.
• Remove chicken to a platter, allow to cool slightly and debone. Return chicken meat to pot. Add wide noodles and parsley, bring back up to a low boil and cook noodles as per package instructions. Check salt and pepper at end before serving.