Description
Käsespätzle is a traditional German dish featuring soft, homemade Spätzle noodles tossed in a rich, creamy gruyere cheese sauce with caramelized onions. This comforting meal combines tender egg noodles, buttery sautéed onions, and melted cheese for a hearty and satisfying experience, perfect for a cozy family dinner.
Ingredients
For the Spätzle Noodles
- 2 cups (250 grams) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
For the Sauce and Assembly
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, cut into thin half circles
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- 2 cups (200 grams) gruyere cheese, shredded
- Kosher salt to taste
- Fresh chives (optional) to garnish
- Fried onions (optional) to garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Spätzle Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, kosher salt, eggs, and water until the mixture is thick but still flows from a spoon. Add a little more water if necessary to reach the right consistency.
- Rest the Dough: Allow the dough to rest for at least 10 minutes to hydrate the flour fully.
- Boil Water: While the dough rests, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Cook Spätzle: Working in batches, push the dough through a colander or the large holes of a grater (or use a Spätzle maker) directly into the boiling water. Cook until the noodles rise to the surface, about 1-2 minutes.
- Drain and Rinse: Use a slotted spoon to remove the Spätzle from the boiling water and immediately rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
- Caramelize Onions: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt, cooking for about 20 minutes until they are lightly caramelized, stirring often and adjusting heat to prevent burning.
- Make Sauce: Add the vegetable broth and heavy cream to the skillet with onions. Add another pinch of salt and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
- Combine Noodles and Sauce: Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the cooked Spätzle noodles to the sauce, stirring to combine thoroughly.
- Add Cheese: Stir in the shredded gruyere cheese and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally until the cheese melts smoothly and coats the noodles.
- Season and Garnish: Adjust salt to taste. Serve hot, garnished with fresh chives and fried onions if desired for added flavor and texture.
Notes
- Resting the dough helps improve the texture of the Spätzle noodles.
- Rinsing cooked noodles with cold water prevents them from sticking together.
- Caramelized onions add a sweet, rich flavor crucial for authentic Käsespätzle.
- You can substitute gruyere cheese with Emmental or a mild Swiss cheese if unavailable.
- Fried onions as garnish add a delightful crunch and extra layer of flavor.
- This dish is best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated gently to preserve creaminess.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: German
