Kässpätzle with a Mixed Salad

Kässpätzle with a Mixed Salad
© COMTÉ by Food & Foto

Kässpätzle with a Mixed Salad

Cheese lovers, if you haven't yet come across the luscious dish that is kässpätzle, you are in for a treat with these cheesy pan-fried dumplings. Here, 'Monsieur Comté' Reinhold Schuster prepares the them with the French mountain cheese Comté.

Ingredients (4 servings)
600 g plain flour, plus 2 tbsp extra to dust
8 eggs, lightly beaten
5–12 tablespoon(s) water
3 onions, cut into rings
10 tablespoon(s) sunflower oil
200 g Comté cheese, coarsely grated
pinch(es) freshly grated nutmeg
4 tablespoon(s) white wine vinegar
salt
pepper
1 teaspoon(s) mustard
1 tablespoon(s) honey
1 shallot, finely chopped
200 g mixed baby lettuce salad leaves
1 bunch parsley, leaves chopped
butter, for greasing
1 teaspoon(s) salt

Preparation: 

  • In a bowl, combine the 600g flour, eggs, 1 tsp salt and the measured water, adding just enough water to make a thick dough (you may not need it all). Set aside to rest for 1 hour.
  • Meanwhile, season the onion rings with salt and dust with the 2 tablespoons flour.
  • Heat 6 tbsp of the oil in a heavy-based pan. When hot, add the onion rings and fry until browned and crisp, about 10 minutes, turning regularly so they don't burn. Set aside.
  • Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Grease a baking dish with butter.
  • Put the dough in portions into a spaetzle press, press into the boiling water and cook for about 3 minutes until the spaetzle rise to the top.
  • Remove with a skimmer, rinse briefly with cold water and drain. Repeat until all the spaetzle are cooked.
  • Season the spaetzle with salt and nutmeg and transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the Comté on top and stir it in gently. Bake for 10–15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, for the vinaigrette, whisk together the vinegar, honey and mustard in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.
  • Whisk in the remaining 4 tbsp oil drop by drop. Stir in the shallot.
  • Put the salad leaves in a large bowl and dress with the vinaigrette just before serving.
  • Serve the spaetzle on a serving platter with the fried onions on top, sprinkle with parsley, and serve the salad on the side. 

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