Deutsche Küche Spaetzle

My oldest daughter and I love noodles. Whether it’s macaroni and cheese, lasagna, stuffed shells, tortellini, fettucine, or noodles baked into a casserole or added to chili for chili mac, pasta is one of the ultimate comfort foods.

So when fellow Aldi Reviewer writer Elizabeth told me a while back that the bagged spaetzle at Aldi were the “best noodles,” I paid attention. Aldi sells spaetzle only every once in a while, usually as part of its twice-annual German week when the grocer sells all kinds of German or German-inspired goodies such as whole grain mustard, indulgent cakes, peanut puffs, doppel keks, and more. So if you see these noodles in stores and want them, buy them, because Aldi doesn’t stock them year round. They’re shelf stable and last a long time in the pantry, so stock up.

Spaetzle are a variety of egg noodle that originated in Europe, and the word literally translates to “little sparrows.” The noodles have a texture that is somewhat chewy and similar to dumplings. Spaetzle are often associated with Swabia in southwestern Germany.

You can cook spaetzle and serve them with something as simple as butter, maybe with some fried onions or even a little cheese, for a traditional side dish. Or you can serve them alongside beef or schnitzel. Fellow blogger Elizabeth likes to use the noodles in any type of soup or casserole that calls for noodles. My family enjoys them served with beef stroganoff, which I make using grass-fed beef stew meat purchased from a local farm. The noodles are thick and hearty and pair especially well with beef and rich sauce. While it seems like an unconventional way of serving spaetzle, my kids even scarf these noodles up with jarred alfredo sauce or pesto sauce. The noodles are that good, and there are a lot of possibilities.

Deutsche Küche Spaetzle Swabian Egg Noodles cost $3.49 for a 17.6-ounce package at the time of publication. The package describes these as “specialty pasta made with wheat semolina.” This is a product of Germany.

As mentioned above, these are an Aldi Find, so they’re only in stores for a limited time. Each store gets one shipment, and once that sells out, they’re not typically restocked until the next German week. Aldi does not offer online ordering for products that are not in stock at your local store.

Ingredients are durum wheat semolina and egg. The package also states these contain four eggs per 2.2 pounds.

If you’re looking out for allergens, these contain wheat and egg. They may contain soy.

Nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)

One bag has about nine 1/2-cup servings. One serving has 200 calories, 2 grams of total fat (3% DV), 0.5 grams of saturated fat (3% DV), 20 mg of sodium (0% DV), 37 grams of total carbohydrates (14% DV), 2 grams of total sugars, and no added sugars.

The bag has directions for cooking the noodles. Boil water (4 quarts for 16 ounces of noodles). Add 1 tablespoon of salt if desired. Add the noodles and wait for water to return to a boil. Lightly boil for 12-14 minutes until done. Stir frequently. Drain and serve as desired.

Cooked noodles, ready to add butter, cheese, sautéed onions, or whatever suits your taste.

The package also lists a recipe for Cheese Spaetzle that you can try.

Cheese Spaetzle:

(Serves four.)

Ingredients: 

• 1 bag Deutsche Küche Spaetzle
• 7 oz. grated Swiss cheese
• 1-2 cups chopped onions
• 1 tbsp. butter

Directions: 

Cook the spaetzle according to instructions. In a casserole dish, layer the spaetzle, Swiss cheese, and butter. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 5 minutes or until browned. Brown the chopped onions and add to the top of the cheese spaetzle.

The Verdict:

Deutsche Küche Spaetzle Swabian Egg Noodles are imported from Germany and are a classic Central European side dish. These are versatile and can be served with cheese, melted butter, and cooked onions alongside schnitzel or various beef dishes. We love spooning beef stroganoff on top of these noodles. They’re also great in any dish that calls for noodles, from soup to casseroles.