spaetzle

American  

[shpet-sluh, -suhl, -slee] / ˈʃpɛt slə, -səl, -sli /

noun

1. a dish consisting of lumps or threads made from a batter of flour, milk, eggs, and salt, usually poured through a coarse colander into boiling water, and then either drained and mixed in butter, lightly pan-fried, or added to sauces, stews, etc.

---

Etymology

Origin of spaetzle

< German (dial.) Spätzle, diminutive of Spatz dumpling, sparrow, Middle High German, derivative of spar sparrow

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spaetzle

Ultimately, he found it worked particularly well as a milk substitute in spaetzle, a German noodle traditionally made from milk, flour, and eggs.

From Salon ● Jan. 29, 2025

Hans’ stocks German honey and marmalade, with some French preserves ecumenically included, above shelves of mixes for potato dumplings, rösti, spaetzle.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 22, 2023

Ulrich Gellar, an Ostelsheim retiree, beamed at Mr. Alshebl’s enjoyment of spaetzle, a cheesy noodle dish, and maultaschen, the local dumplings.

From New York Times ● May 28, 2023

In this slight riff on my Oma's spaetzle, I've added mixed soft herbs, which add interest and color without overpowering the eggy essence of these scruffy homemade noodles.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2021

Set on some water to boil, salt the water and when the water boils drop the spaetzle into it, one at a time.

From The International Jewish Cook Book 1600 Recipes According to the Jewish Dietary Laws with the Rules for Kashering; the Favorite Recipes of America, Austria, Germany, Russia, France, Poland, Roumania, Etc., Etc. by Greenbaum, Florence Kreisler