Sauerkraut Spaetzle With German Sausages Recipes

JUTTA'S TRADITIONAL GERMAN SPAETZLE WITH SAUERKRAUT.

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water, add oil, and bring to a boil.
• Place flour in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the middle. Add salt, eggs, and water and beat the dough until smooth and bubbly. The dough should have a thick consistency.
• Fill a spaetzle press with the dough and squeeze into the boiling water (You may use a colander to push the dough through or a wooden cutting board and scrape dough little by little with a knife into the water).
• When the spaetzle float to the top of the pot, drain them. Place half of the spaetzle in a glass baking dish and add a layer of sauerkraut on top. Add another layer of spaetzle and sauerkraut. Cover the pan to keep the dish warm.
• In a separate pan melt the butter and add breadcrumbs just long enough to moisten them. Top the spaetzle with the breadcrumbs.
• Place in a preheated oven at 200 C for 15 minutes.
• This is also delicious reheated the next day with a little bit of butter.

SAUERKRAUT SPAETZLE WITH GERMAN SAUSAGES

Steps:

• Cook the Sauerkraut for about 15 minutes with some juniper berries, bay leaves and a dash of white wine. (Don't let it burn).
• Cook the Spaetzle al dente in boiling salt-water.
• Melt three tablespoons of butter in a large pan. Sauté the chopped up onion and about 1 cup of diced bacon. (Be careful with the amount, depending on the saltyness of the bacon).
• When the bacon is nice and crunchy, fry the Spaetzle in the same pan until they are just a bit golden.
• Add the cooked Sauerkraut and stir well. Season with salt and pepper.
• Just before serving, throw in the chopped parsley for some fresh color.
• Fry up the sausages and place on top of the Spaetzle.

SPAETZLE WITH KIELBASA AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, lightly brown the kielbasa until golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Melt the butter in the skillet. Stir in the onion and thyme, and stir briefly to coat the onion with butter. Cook onion, without stirring, until dark brown, about 5 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and cook on low heat until very soft and caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons water and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Transfer onion to a bowl.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1 teaspoon salt and the nutmeg. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir well. The batter should be fairly wet, with a consistency slightly thicker than pancake batter.
• Spread a clean dish towel flat on a work surface adjacent to the stove. Working over the pot of boiling water, press dough through a spaetzle maker or use a rubber spatula to push it through a colander with holes at least 1/4-inch wide. Drop dough into the water. When dumplings rise to the surface, use a slotted spoon to transfer to the towel.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Toss the spaetzle and kielbasa in the bowl with the onions, and add 1 1/2 cups cheese and the pepper. Spread into a 2-quart gratin dish. Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake until golden and bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes.