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Vegetarian, European

Käsespätzle with green salad

Käsespätzle are small homemade Swabian egg noodles, baked with melted cheese and topped with crispy fried onions, served alongside a green salad. This recipe serves 4, takes 45 minutes, and is rated moderate difficulty, at a cost of €2.40 per person. The key to success is a loose batter and well browned onions.

Tonight we're heading to Swabia with käsespätzle, homemade little noodles baked with cheese, topped with crispy fried onions, and a green salad on the side.

Käsespätzle with green salad
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€2.40
Calories per person
750 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Käsespätzle are small, irregular noodles, soft and tender, tucked under a layer of melted cheese. The contrast comes from the fried onions on top, crispy and almost caramelized, added right before serving. This is nothing like a standard pasta bake, the texture stays light thanks to a batter worked with a wooden spoon rather than kneaded.

This is a winter dish, the kind you make on a quiet Sunday evening or a chilly weeknight when you want something comforting without meat. Kids usually love the melted cheese and the fun shape of the noodles. The green salad on the side brings just enough freshness to balance the richness of the plate.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • flouroften in the pantry 400 g
  • sparkling wateroften in the pantry 15 cl
  • nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • mustard vinaigretteoften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • eggs 4
  • shredded Swiss or Gruyère cheese 250 g
  • butter 50 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • onions 3
  • green salad 1

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs, Mustard

The step by step recipe

  1. Mix the flour, eggs, sparkling water, salt, and nutmeg, then beat the batter until it starts to bubble. 10 min

    Beat with a wooden spoon, you're looking for elasticity.

  2. Slowly cook the sliced onions in half the butter until golden and crispy. 20 min

    Stir often, the onions caramelize quickly near the end.

  3. Bring salted water to a boil, press the batter through a colander or spätzle press, and scoop the noodles out as soon as they float. 10 min

    Work in small batches, otherwise the spätzle stick together.

  4. In a buttered dish, layer the spätzle and cheese, then bake at 200 degrees until golden and bubbling. 10 min

    Mix the hot spätzle with the cheese first, it melts better.

  5. Scatter the crispy onions on top and serve with the dressed green salad.

    Serve straight from the skillet or dish, that's how it's done in Swabia.

Our tips to get it right

  • Let the batter rest a few minutes after beating it, it will be easier to push through a colander.
  • If you don't have a spätzle press, a wet cutting board and a knife work just as well to drop the batter into the water.
  • Save a splash of the spätzle cooking water, it helps loosen the mix if things look too dry before baking.

The variations

  • Swap the Swiss or Gruyère cheese for aged Comté or raclette cheese for a stronger flavor.
  • Add bacon bits to the onions while they cook if you want a non vegetarian version.
  • For a faster version, use store bought spätzle and spend your time on the onions and the baking step instead.

What to serve it with

  • A well dressed green salad
  • Sparkling apple juice
  • Homemade applesauce

Storage

Käsespätzle keep for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. They freeze well once cooled, without the salad. Reheat in a skillet with a little butter or in the oven to bring back the melted cheese texture.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the spätzle batter ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it a few hours ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Take it out a bit before using so it's easy to work with.

Do you need a spätzle press?

No, a large holed colander or a wet cutting board with a knife both work well. The goal is just to drop thin strands of batter into boiling water.

Can you skip the sparkling water in the batter?

You can use still water instead, the spätzle will just be slightly less light. The bubbles help keep the batter airy during cooking.

Do kids usually like this dish?

Yes, the melted cheese and the fun noodle shape are usually a hit. You can reduce the nutmeg if you want a milder flavor for them.

How long does it take to make a plate of käsespätzle, small Swabian egg noodles baked with cheese and crispy onions, served with a green salad?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a plate of käsespätzle, small Swabian egg noodles baked with cheese and crispy onions, served with a green salad?

About 750 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 plate of käsespätzle, small Swabian egg noodles baked with cheese and crispy onions, served with a green salad cost?

About €2.40 per serving, or €9.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

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

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