Quark Spaetzle Recipes

QUARK SPATZLE WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the spätzle: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it until it tastes like sea water (about 2 teaspoons per quart). Whisk the quark, eggs, and yolks together in a large bowl. Use a rubber spatula to stir in the flour until smooth. Season with the salt, nutmeg, and white pepper.
• 2. Using half of the spätzle dough at a time and working quickly, push the dough through the holes of a colander (or spätzle maker) into the boiling water. Stir the spätzle and cook until the water returns to a simmer, about 1 minute. Then, using a skimmer or a large slotted spoon, transfer the spätzle to another colander. Run cold water over the spätzle to stop them from cooking further. Set that batch of spätzle aside. When the water returns to a boil, make the rest of the spätzle, repeating the procedure.
• 3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add 3 tablespoons of the butter and then the onions. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and light brown, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until tender, another 2 minutes. Raise the heat to high and add the spätzle. Fry, stirring frequently, until the spätzle begin to turn golden, about 10 minutes. Season with the nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• 4. Add the cheese and fry, stirring, until it begins to brown, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the beef stock and cook, stirring often, until it is absorbed. Add more stock until a thick, soupy consistency is achieved.
• 5. Meanwhile, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, season with salt and pepper, and fry until they are brown and slightly crisp.
• 6. Serve immediately, garnished with the fried shallots and chives.
• Note: Hoch Ybrig is made in Zurich from cow's milk. It is a buttery, nutty, pungent cheese, similar in flavor to Gruyère. It is available at specialty cheese stores.

FRESH CHEESE SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the milk, cottage cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
• Stir in the flour until a smooth, thick, sticky batter forms.
• Spoon the batter into a colander with 1/4-inch holes.
• Set or hold the colander 1 inch above the boiling water and scrape the batter through the holes, using a rubber spatula.
• Stir the spaetzle once or twice to separate them.
• As soon as they rise to the surface, use a slotted spoon to transfer the spaetzle to a clean colander and drain well.
• Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet. Add the boiled spaetzle and cook them over moderately high heat, stirring and shaking the skillet occasionally, until the spaetzle are browned and crisp in spots, about 5 minutes.
• Add the quark and snipped chives, reduce the heat to moderately low and cook, stirring, until the sauce is creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Season the spaetzle with salt and pepper and serve right away.
• MAKE AHEAD:.
• The boiled cheese spaetzle can be covered in plastic wrap and kept at room temperature for up to 2 hours before sautéing.
• NOTES.
• INSTEAD OF COTTAGE CHEESE: Farmer cheese.
• INSTEAD OF QUARK: Crème fraîche, fromage blanc, lebneh or mascarpone.

SPAETZLE WITH CORN, PEAS, BRAISED RABBIT AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• For rabbit: preheat oven to 375 degrees. Season rabbit with salt and pepper to taste. Place a large braising pan or casserole over medium-high heat and add vegetable oil. When oil shimmers, add rabbit and brown lightly on all sides.
• Transfer rabbit to a platter. Add carrot, onion and celery root to pan. Sauté until softened and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Return rabbit to pan on top of vegetables, and add wine, thyme and garlic. Cover and braise in oven for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare corn, peas and spaetzle.
• For corn and peas: in a large saucepan bring milk to a simmer and season lightly with salt. Add corn and simmer for 2 minutes. Drain, cut corn from cob and reserve. Fill a small saucepan with lightly salted water and bring to a simmer. Add peas and simmer just until they turn bright green. Drain, cool in ice water, drain again; reserve.
• For spaetzle: place a large pot of lightly salted water over high heat to bring to a boil. Place flour in a large bowl and season to taste with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg. Add eggs, 1/2 cup cream and quark; mix well. When water boils, press dough through a spaetzle maker directly into water. As noodles float to top, remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl. Mix with a bit of olive oil. Set aside.
• To finish: when rabbit is cooked, reserve 3 tablespoons stock. Remove rabbit meat from bones and cut into small cubes. Place a large sautépan over medium heat, and add butter, corn, peas, rabbit and spaetzle. Sautè until thoroughly heated. Add reserved rabbit stock, 5 teaspoons heavy cream and a dash of lemon juice. Bring to a boil, add tarragon and chives, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

QUARK SPAETZLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add about 1 tsp salt.
• While water is coming up to boil, make batter. Whisk the quark and eggs together in a large bowl. Mix in the salt and nutmeg. Gently stir in the flour until smooth (start with 1 1/2 cups and add more if necessary - batter should be fairly wet).
• Working with half of the batter at a time, push the batter through the holes of a colander (or spätzle maker) into the boiling water.
• Stir and cook until the water returns to a simmer, about 45 seconds to 1 minute.
• Using a skimmer or a large slotted spoon, transfer the spätzle to another colander. Run cold water over them to stop the cooking. Set aside and once the water has returned to a boil, repeat with the rest of the dough.
• Heat a large cast-iron or non-stick skillet over medium heat.
• Add butter, melt, and then add the onions.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, about 5-8 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
• Raise the heat to medium-high and add the spätzle.
• Fry, stirring frequently, until the spätzle begin to turn golden, about 10 minutes.
• Season with more fresh grated nutmeg and black pepper, to taste.
• Remove pan from heat and add the cheese, stirring until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.