The Ultimate Comfort Food
Käsespätzle (or German cheese spaetzle) is a warm egg noodle or dumpling-like dish made with heaps of Swiss cheese (my kind of recipe!). The name quite literally translates to “cheese noodle.” It’s a staple in Austria for its creamy decadence and great flavor (I mean, it’s hard to argue with all that cheesiness after a long day of skiing). Kaesespaetzle could be compared to American mac and cheese, though spaetzle is a bit heartier than your typical pasta. Today, we’re showing you how to make this comforting German recipe because even if you aren’t skiing in Austria, there’s always a reason to cozy up with a bowl of something cheesy, right?
Here’s What You’ll Need
Kaesespaetzle is packed with flavor thanks to a few pantry items and a generous amount of cheese.
White Onion: First up, you’ll need 2 heaping cups of white onion. It takes around 2 full onions to reach 2 cups. Butter: Add creaminess with 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. We’ll use unsalted butter since we can better control the sodium content this way. Salt: Enhance the flavor of the other ingredients with ½ teaspoon of salt. Spaetzle: Now for the spaetzle! You’ll need 6 cups of this pasta-like ingredient, which is 2 10.5-oz packages of dried spaetzle. Cheese: First up, use 1 ½ cups of shredded Swiss Emmental cheese (aka Emmentaler cheese). Follow that with 1 ½ cups of shredded gruyere cheese (because you can never have too much cheesiness in one dish!).
This Dish Is Ready In Under An Hour
German Kaesespaetzle is quite a simple recipe that’s ready in 45 minutes and contains 8 servings. Step 1: Caramelize The OnionsThinly slice the onions into strips. Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pan (like a cast iron) over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until they turn golden brown. When finished, stir in the salt. Step 2: Prepare The SpaetzleMeanwhile, cook the spaetzle according to the instructions on the package. Step 3: Assemble The DishWhile everything is still hot, stir together the cooked spaetzle, caramelized onions, and both grated cheese varieties with a spatula or wooden spoon. Step 4: Garnish And ServeServe your Kaesespaetzle warm, topped with chives. How do you pronounce käsespätzle?Käsespätzle is pronounced like “kay-spat-zle.” Is spaetzle pasta?It’s not, though it is similar! To make spaetzle, flour, eggs, and milk are combined until they reach a pancake batter consistency. Pasta is typically made from wheat, water, and egg, which are combined to form a dough. Where is Kaesespaetzle from?Kaesespaetzle comes from regions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It’s a staple in all three countries!
Recipes to pair with kaesespaetzle
Whether you’re enjoying this Kaesespaetzle as a main course or a side dish, here are some options that stand up to all that cheesiness!
Healthier Sauerkraut Salad is the perfect tangy accompaniment to balance the richness of the cheese. Sauerkraut Soup if you prefer your tangy side to be a warm, comforting bowl of soup (topped with vegan “bacon” and crème fraîche!). Pitawurst makes a delicious vegetarian spin on the classic bratwurst sausage and Kaesespaetzle combo. Vegan Schnitzel is such a classic dish. The perfect crunch to balance these cheesey noodles!
