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Meat, Northern, Eastern and Western France

Pasta with Morteau sausage and comté cheese

Pasta with Morteau sausage and comté cheese is a creamy pasta dish for 4 people, ready in 30 minutes, rated very easy, at about €2.60 per person. The trick is browning the sausage well in the pan and saving a ladle of pasta water to bind the comté sauce.

Creamy comté pasta with golden diced Morteau sausage, a pasta dish with real character.

Pasta with Morteau sausage and comté cheese
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€2.60
Calories per person
710 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Morteau sausage brings a smoky edge that sets this dish apart from ordinary mac and cheese. Diced small and browned in a dry pan, it releases enough fat to flavor the shallots and crisp slightly at the edges, while melted comté coats the pasta in a thick, stretchy sauce.

This is the kind of dinner you make on a weeknight when you don't want to think too hard, and kids ask for seconds while adults do too. Serve it with a green salad on the side and it feeds the whole family without taking over your evening or your budget.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Pasta shellsoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Vinaigretteoften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Butcher

  • Morteau sausage 1

Dairy

  • Grated comté cheese 120 g
  • Thick crème fraîche 15 cl

Fruits and vegetables

  • Shallots 2
  • Green salad 1

Allergens Gluten, Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the sausage in simmering water, then cut it into small dice. 20 min

    Let it cool slightly before cutting, so it doesn't fall apart.

  2. Cook the pasta shells in boiling salted water. 9 min

    Drain them a bit before the cooking time is up, they'll finish cooking in the sauce.

  3. Brown the diced sausage and minced shallots in a dry skillet, no oil needed.

    The sausage releases enough fat on its own.

  4. Add the cream and comté, let it melt over low heat while stirring. 4 min

    Take it off the heat if the comté starts to turn stringy.

  5. Toss the pasta with the sauce, add pepper, and serve with a green salad.

    Loosen with a bit of pasta water if the sauce gets too thick.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a Morteau sausage that's already well smoked, it adds flavor to the whole dish without needing extra spices.
  • Mince the shallots finely so they melt into the sauce instead of staying crunchy and taking over the dish.
  • Grate the comté yourself rather than using pre-shredded cheese, it melts more evenly and avoids clumps.

The variations

  • Swap the Morteau sausage for Montbéliard sausage, a bit less smoky but just as good in this dish.
  • For a vegetarian version, skip the sausage and add diced button mushrooms, browned the same way in the pan.
  • For a quicker kid friendly version, dice the sausage smaller and use less cream for a lighter, faster sauce.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with a light vinaigrette
  • Country bread for mopping up sauce
  • A glass of white wine from the Jura

Storage

This dish keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It doesn't freeze especially well since the cream can separate once thawed. Reheat gently in a pan or saucepan with a splash of water or milk to bring the sauce back to its creamy texture.

Questions about this dish

Can I use a different sausage instead of Morteau?

Yes, Montbéliard sausage works great and cooks the same way. Avoid sausages that are too fatty, they'll make the sauce heavy.

How do I keep the comté sauce from getting too thick?

Always save a ladle of pasta cooking water before draining. Stir in a little if the sauce thickens too much as it cools.

Can I make this ahead of time?

You can cook the sausage and make the comté sauce a few hours ahead. Cook the pasta at the last minute so it doesn't turn gummy.

Can I use a different cheese instead of comté?

Emmental or gruyère both work well, they melt nicely and taste similar to comté. Comté still gives the dish more character.

How long does it take to make pasta with Morteau sausage and comté cheese?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in pasta with Morteau sausage and comté cheese?

About 710 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 pasta with Morteau sausage and comté cheese cost?

About €2.60 per serving, or €10.40 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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