Homemade German Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle) Recipe
If there is one dish that perfectly represents German comfort food, it has to be German Cheese Spaetzle, also known as Käsespätzle. Warm, soft egg noodles coated in melted cheese and topped with golden, crispy onions, this is the kind of meal that feels like a cozy hug in a bowl
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- Whisk or wooden spoon
- Spaetzle maker, colander, or grater
- Large pot for boiling
- Frying pan
- Oven-safe dish or deep pan
- Cheese grater
- Slotted spoon
Ingredients
For the Spaetzle Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1/2 cup water or milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- A pinch of nutmeg optional but traditional
For the Cheese Layer
- 2 cups grated cheese Emmental, Gruyère, or a mix with Mozzarella
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Onion Topping
- 2 large onions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter or oil
Instructions
The Spaetzle Batter/Dough
- In a large bowl, mix the flour with the salt until well combined.Add the eggs, one by one, and stir them in with a wooden spoon.
- Now it is time to gradually add the water, stirring the mixture consisten
- We want the batter to be lump-free with a thick but also elastic consistency.
- Once the batter has the right consistency, vigorously work the batter for around 5 more minutes (or longer)with a wooden spoon until you can see bubbles appear.
- Cover the bowl and let the batter rest for around 15 to 30 minutes.
- While the batter is resting, bring salted water in a large pot to a boil.
- Place the spaetzle maker on top of the pot and fill the batter/dough into the hopper with a large spoon.
- Move the hopper back and forth – that way the dough will be pressed through the wholes and forms small dumplings – our spaetzle.
- Let the spaetzle simmer in the boiling water for 2 minutes and take them out with a slotted spoon.
- At this point, you can either put the spaetzle straight into the skillet or rinse them in cold water, drain off the water, and store them in the fridge.
- Repeat the process with the remaining batter/dough.
Get Everything Ready To Make The Cheese Spaetzle
- While the dough/batter rests, slice the onion and fry the butter in the skillet.
- Add the sliced onion to the butter. Add a pinch of salt and saute the onions until soft and golden brown.Turn off the heat and wait until the spaetzle are ready.
- Grate the cheese and chop the chives. Set aside for later.
How To Make The Cheese Spaetzle
- As mentioned before, we use a slotted spoon to take out the cooked spaetzle.
- Add the grated cheese (as much or as little as you like), the chives, and season with salt and pepper.
- Stir everything until the cheese is melted and fry for a few minutes.
- Serve while it is still hot. Garnish with more chives and sprinkle with the roasted onions.
- I like to serve the cheese spaetzle with a green salad on the side. Guten Appetit.
Video
Notes
Spaetzle, on its own, is great as a side dish served with meaty dishes or as a vegetarian main dish, as you can see in my German cheese spaetzle recipe.