German Lentil Stew with Spaetzle – Swabian Specialty

The German Lentil stew with Spaetzle is a popular Swabian dish that is served in almost every Swabian “Gasthaus or Gasthof” (Gasthaus is a Inn with home cooked local specialties such as “Gasthaus Krone” or “Gasthof Bären” ).
You can make the Spaetzle or get them dried and packaged from the German manufacturer Bechtle, they have really good ones.  In case you don’t know what Spaetzle are: It’s a sort of pasta, some call them dumplings, but they are special egg noodles used as side dish, in soups or stews such as the German lentil stew. Add sausages if you like, this is a classic version. Happy Cooking!

Ingredients German Lentil Stew with Spaetzle

250 g green lentils (dry)
1 carrot
2 celery stalks or 1/2 celery root
1 onion
some parsley or parsley root
1 leek
1-2 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp German mustard
50 g German Speck or Smoked Bacon
1 tbsp cooking oil (taste neutral such as sunflower oil)
1 cube or instant beef broth
– Go to the Recipe How to make Beef Broth –
salt, pepper to taste
1 dash nutmeg
200 g Spaetzle
150 g Kassler or Wiener Sausage
1-2 tbsp parsley, chopped

ORIGINAL – SPÄTZLE MADE IN SWABIA 

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak the lentils for at least 6 hours or overnight in cold water. Drain them, wash under running water, let drip.
2. Slice carrots, leek and celery stems, cut celery root in cubes. Cut Speck in cubes. chop onions. Saute bacon with onions, carrots, leek and celery in the oil for 1-2 min.
3. Add 1 l water, lentils and instant broth (or the broth), bring to a brisk boil.

4. Spice the stew with mustard, spices and vinegar. Let simmer for 1 hour or until lentils are very soft.
5. 7-8 minutes before the lentils are done, add the dried Spaetzle. Cook them with lentils until they are soft. If you make Spaetzle from scratch cooking time is reduced to 2-3 min.
6. Cut Kassler or sausages in slices or cubes. Add to the stew for some minutes before you serve it.

Sprinkle chopped parsley over the stew before you serve it.

GO TO THE Recipe How to make Spaetzle

Find Swabian Spätzle from Bechtle in the German Food Package

photo credit