Liechtensteiner Käsknöpfle is the national dish of Liechtenstein. It is essentially the Alpine version of mac and cheese—hearty, incredibly cheesy, and absolutely delicious.
The noodles (Spätzle) are made from a simple batter of flour, water, and eggs, and then pressed through a perforated board. While special Spätzle boards are available, you can easily use a colander or a slotted spoon in a pinch! The dough is dropped into a pot of salted boiling water, and the moment the noodles pop to the surface, they are perfectly cooked.
This noodle-like pasta is then mixed with three different types of robust cheeses and baked in the oven until bubbly. The entire dish is then topped with rich, caramelized onions. I must say, this was better than any mac and cheese I have ever had, and I fully understand why it is considered their national dish. It is almost always served with applesauce on the side, which is exactly how we enjoyed it!
Recipe Overview
- Course: Side Dish / Main Course
- Cuisine: Liechtensteiner
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 Large eggs
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 ½ Cups Water
- 4 Cups All-purpose flour
- 8 oz Gruyère cheese (grated)
- 8 oz Emmental cheese (grated)
- 8 oz Fontina cheese (grated) (Note: Feel free to make substitutes based on availability!)
- 2 Medium onions (sliced thinly)
Instructions: Step-by-Step
- Prepare the Water: Put a large pot of salted water on the stove to boil.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together the flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat the 4 eggs with 1 cup of the water.
- Form the Dough: Add the egg mixture to the flour, mixing well to form a soft dough. Add the remaining water as necessary so that the dough is soft enough to go through the holes of a colander or Spätzle maker.
- Cook the Noodles: Press the dough through your colander/Spätzle maker into the boiling water. (You may need to use a spatula to push the dough through a colander). As the noodles cook and rise to the top of the water, remove them immediately with a slotted spoon. Continue this process until all the dough is cooked.
- Assemble the Casserole: Place the cooked Spätzle in a casserole dish and mix thoroughly with all the grated cheese.
- Bake: Put the casserole in a 375°F (190°C) oven for about 30 minutes until the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly.
- Caramelize the Onions: While the pasta is baking in the oven, cook your thinly sliced onions in a skillet on low heat until they are deeply caramelized and nice and brown.
- Serve: Add the caramelized onions to the top of the baked Käsknöpfle and serve hot with a side of applesauce!
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