Spaetzle (pronounced SHPET-sle) are soft, chewy German egg noodles or dumplings made from a simple batter of flour, eggs, and milk/water, with a texture between pasta and dumplings, traditionally shaped by scraping or pressing through a maker into boiling water. Nicknamed “little sparrows,” they’re a staple in Southern Germany (Swabia), Austria, and Switzerland, often served savory with gravies, cheese (Käsespätzle), or meats, or sometimes sweet with fruit.