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Vegetarian, Classics and bistro fare

Creamy comté pasta with side salad

Creamy comté pasta is small pasta cooked risotto style, with broth stirred in one ladle at a time, serving 4 people in 25 minutes. It is rated very easy and costs around €1.50 per person. The key to success is patience, pouring the broth in slowly while stirring, since the starch from the pasta does the rest of the work.

You know risotto, but ditalini cooked the same way is the version that makes kids jump for joy, especially with good grated comté.

Creamy comté pasta with side salad
Total time
25 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.50
Calories per person
510 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

There is no cream or separate sauce here, the starch released by the pasta is what creates this creamy texture, built up through stirring and slowly adding broth. Grated comté ties everything together, with a pinch of nutmeg that lifts the flavor without changing it. The result is creamy, almost velvety pasta, far from the everyday buttered noodles kids usually get.

This is the kind of dish that turns a tired weeknight around, since it only needs one pan and a bit of attention, nothing technical at all. Kids love finding their favorite pasta shape in a richer, more grown up version, and the side salad adds just enough freshness to balance the meal.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Ditalini pastaoften in the pantry 350 g
  • Vegetable brothoften in the pantry 80 cl
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Cider vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Grated comté 120 g
  • Butter 30 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Green salad 1

Allergens Gluten, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Heat the broth in a saucepan and keep it at a gentle simmer.

    Hot broth keeps the cooking from stalling each time you add more.

  2. Melt half the butter in a sauté pan, sweat the finely chopped onion, then add the pasta and toast it for a minute. 3 min

    The pasta should turn slightly translucent at the edges.

  3. Pour in the broth one ladle at a time while stirring, waiting for each ladle to be absorbed before adding the next. 14 min

    Stir more often toward the end, that is when it tends to stick.

  4. Off the heat, stir in the remaining butter, the comté, the nutmeg and the pepper, mixing briskly.

    Cover for a minute, the cheese melts gently in the residual heat.

  5. Dress the salad with the oil, vinegar and salt, and serve alongside the pasta while it is hot.

    Serve right away, this pasta firms up as it cools.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick an aged comté rather than a young one, it melts better and gives the pasta more flavor.
  • Grate the cheese yourself instead of using pre shredded comté, it melts more evenly and avoids clumps.
  • Taste the broth before using it, if it is already salty, go lighter on the salt you add at the end.

The variations

  • Swap the comté for parmesan or Swiss cheese if that is what you have on hand, the dish stays just as creamy.
  • Stir in peas or crispy bacon bits at the end of cooking to change things up.
  • For a quicker kid friendly version, cut the pasta cooking time by two minutes, it will stay firmer and dinner will be ready sooner.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with vinaigrette, already part of the recipe
  • Roasted chicken breast on the side
  • Sparkling water with lemon

Storage

Keep the pasta in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 2 days, it firms up as it cools. Reheat gently over low heat with a splash of broth or milk to bring back the creaminess. Freezing is not recommended, the texture suffers too much.

Questions about this dish

Can I use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth?

Yes, chicken broth works well and adds a bit more flavor. Keep the same amount and the same method, adding it one ladle at a time.

Why do you toast the pasta before adding the broth?

Toasting the pasta in butter helps it absorb the broth more evenly as it cooks. This step is key to getting a smooth, creamy texture throughout.

Can this dish be made ahead of time?

This pasta is best eaten right away, since it firms up as it cools. If you need to get ahead, prep your ingredients in advance but cook the pasta just before serving.

What cheese works if I don't have comté?

Freshly grated Swiss cheese or parmesan both work well in place of comté. Stick to a hard cheese that melts smoothly instead of turning stringy.

How long does it take to make a creamy comté pasta with a side salad?

Count 25 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a creamy comté pasta with a side salad?

About 510 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a creamy comté pasta with a side salad cost?

About €1.50 per serving, or €6.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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