Cheesy Spaetzle Recipe (vegan) | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

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This is a vegan version of the classic Cheesy Spaetzle – a traditional Austrian/German dish! Topped with fried onions and chives. You don’t need eggs for the fluffiest spaetzle if you know my two tricks!

Cheesy Spaetzle Recipe (vegan) | Elephantastic Vegan (1)

Spaetzle is a typical dish in the German and Austrian area but in traditional recipes, spaetzle are loaded with eggs. I never thought I could veganize this recipe, but turns out, it’s really easy and tastes just as delicious!

For this recipe, I’ve served the vegan spaetzle with a homemade vegan cheese sauce, green leafy salad, and fried onions, but the base recipe for spaetzle can be used for so many other variations! I often serve them withgoulash or other creamy sauces like with mushrooms.

You should totally try this recipe for veganCheesy Spaetzle though because it’s so good!

How to make vegan Spaetzle that taste and look like the real deal

We’re using two ingredients to makethat happen:

  • Kala Namak aka Himalayan Black Salt, in its rock-form it’s violet to black, when ground it’s pink in color. Due to its high sulfur content, it’s perfect for all dishes that profit from an “eggy” taste and smell.
  • Turmeric powder: When ground it has a deep orange, yellow color which makes it perfect for adding a nice golden/yellow touch!
Cheesy Spaetzle Recipe (vegan) | Elephantastic Vegan (2)

When you love making spaetzle, you should definitely invest in a spaetzle making device: I’m using aSpaetzle Maker, but there are other options out there as well, such as a spaetzle lid or a spaetzle press.

Cheesy Spaetzle Recipe (vegan) | Elephantastic Vegan (3)

More Vegan Spaetzle Recipes

I love making spaetzle. I grew up with it and I didn’t want to give it up just because I went vegan. So I just made vegan spaetzle that are just as delicious. Here are more vegan spaetzle recipes I have on the blog:

  • Spinach Spaetzle – beautiful green spaetzle!
  • Vegan Egg Spaetzle with a creamy avocado sauce

Love it? Rate it!

I hope you enjoy these Vegan Cheesy Spaetzle as much as I do! Let me know if you give it a try!

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Cheers, Bianca

Cheesy Spaetzle Recipe (vegan) | Elephantastic Vegan (4)

Cheesy Spaetzle Recipe (vegan) | Elephantastic Vegan (5)

Cheesy Spaetzle (vegan, egg-free)

Bianca / Elephantastic Vegan

You don’t need lots of eggs to make delicious spaetzle. Try these egg-free, vegan spaetzle and your mind will be blown. Using a spaetzle maker is advised.

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Austrian, Vegan

Servings 2 people

Calories 731 kcal

Ingredients

Vegan Spaetzle

  • 2 cups all-purpose-flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon kala namak (key ingredient for an eggy taste and smell!)
  • 1 cup water + more for the pot
  • 1 teaspoon chives – fresh or dried

Vegan Cheese Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil or vegan butter (EarthBalance, Alsan,..)
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika powder
  • ground pepper
  • 1 pinch garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 cup water

Fried Onions

  • 1 red onion
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • frying oil

Instructions

Vegan Spaetzle

  • Fill a large pot with water until it’s 3/4 full and bring it to a boil.

  • Mix flour, turmeric powder and kala namak in a bowl. Add 1 cup water for the spaetzle dough and whisk until it’s a sticky and slightly runny dough.

  • When the water is boiling you can put the spaetzle maker on top of the pot. Add in the dough and move the spaetzle maker up and down until all the dough is in the water.

  • The spaetzle will swim on the surface once they are ready.

  • Use a slotted spoon to transfer the spaetzle to a sieve, rinse and drain and then add them back into the pot. Now we’re making the cheesy sauce and fried onions!

Vegan Cheese Sauce

  • Heat the coconut oil or butter in a small pot on low heat.

  • Add the salt, pepper, paprika powder, curry powder & garlic powder.

  • Add the flour and whisk.

  • Add nutritional yeast, whisk again until clumpy.

  • Add the water and whisk on low heat for a few minutes. If it gets too thick you can add a little bit more water and whisk again.

  • Pour it over the spaetzle and combine. You can re-heat the spaetzle together with the vegan cheese sauce at this point.

Fried Onions

  • Cut the onions into rings and put them in a large bowl.

  • Add the flour and salt and combine until the onions are coated.

  • Heat the frying oil in a small pot or pan, fry the onions until crispy and brown. Place them on a kitchen paper to remove excess oil before adding them to the spaetzle. Sprinkle the spaetzle with chives and enjoy!

Notes

To make these Spaetzle I highly recommend using a Spaetzle Maker.

Nutrition

Calories: 731kcalCarbohydrates: 125gProtein: 20gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 12gSodium: 2049mgPotassium: 383mgFiber: 6gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 125IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 7.8mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @elephantasticvegan or tag #elephantasticvegan!

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Cheesy Spaetzle Recipe (vegan) | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What is cheese spaetzle made of? ›

Spätzle are little noodles made of flour, durum wheat semolina and egg. They are thick, with bite. You press the Spätzle dough through a potato ricer into boiling water and then you layer the cooked Spätzle noodles with lots of good mountain cheese and fried onions - just addictive!

Can you use a cheese grater to make spaetzle? ›

Some people like to make a thick dough and grate it through the holes of a cheese grater. But if you keep the spaetzle mix as runny as cake batter, you'll be able to push it through a spaetzle maker (or colander) into a pot of boiling water fairly quickly.

What is spaetzle made of? ›

Spätzle is a type of pasta or dumpling or noodles. Spätzle dough typically consists of few ingredients, principally eggs, flour, and salt. The Swabian rule of thumb is to use a number of eggs equal to the number of servings, plus one. Water is often added to produce a runnier dough.

What is the best flour for spaetzle? ›

wheat flour. Type 405 wheat flour is probably the most widely used today for spätzle. Type 405 indicates how high the degree of milling and the content of minerals such as magnesium or potassium. 405 indicates that approximately 405 milligrams of minerals are contained in 100 grams of flour.

How is spaetzle different from pasta? ›

Usually when you make pasta, you form a dense dough from flour and eggs, which you knead, rest, roll, and cut until your arms feel like they're on the verge of falling off. To make spaetzle, you just mix flour, egg, and a bit of milk into a pancake batter-like consistency.

How far ahead can you make spaetzle? ›

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: Cooked German Spaetzle reheats very well and will keep for several days, stored in a container in the refrigerator. To Freeze: Homemade spaetzle freezes well for 3 or 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rewarming.

What noodle is similar to spaetzle? ›

Knoepfle is the “button-shaped” equivalent to spaetzle. I equate it with Switzerland, because my dad is Swiss and we always explained it by calling knoepfle a “swiss noodle.” I think that Knoepfle originated in Germany and, from my research, I learned in Switzerland it is spelled Chnoepfli.

What to put on top of spaetzle? ›

I've served the dumplings plain with melted butter and chopped chives. I've crisped them in a pan of brown butter and almonds. I've topped them with hearty beef stew. But layered with cheese and caramelized onions is still my favorite variation.

What is the English name for spaetzle? ›

Meaning of spaetzle in English

a food, originally from Germany, that is similar to pasta, made with eggs, flour, and milk, and formed into small round or long shapes before being boiled and sometimes fried: Spaetzle may be browned in a little butter before serving.

Why do Jews eat egg noodles? ›

History. "Jews eat lots of lokshen on Shabbat because noodles are symbolic of the unity of the people of Israel: They are so tangled that they can never be separated."

Is spaetzle the same as gnocchi? ›

What is the difference between gnocchi and spaetzle? The main difference between gnocchi and spaetzle is that gnocchi are made from potatoes while spaetzle noodles are made from flour, originally spelt flour. Gnocchi are also typically much larger than spaetzle, which are fairly small.

How long does spaetzle keep in the fridge? ›

Yield: This Spaetzle recipe makes six hearty side dish servings of about 1 cup each. Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make ahead: Complete steps 1 through 7 up to 3 days ahead. Refrigerate in an airtight container until you're ready to proceed with step 8.

What do Käsespätzle taste like? ›

Warm, creamy, cheesy, savory… absolutely delicious! If you aren't already familiar with Käsespätzle, it is a German and Austrian dish that falls somewhere in between mac and cheese and gnocchi.

Does spaetzle taste like pasta? ›

Taste: Spatzle taste similar to my beloved egg noodles, with the chewiness of a dumpling.

What type of cheese is from Germany? ›

Although Germany is known more for imitating cheeses from nearby countries, Germany does deserve credit for creating its own original German Cheese types such as Bruder Basil, Butterkase and Cambozola cheeses.

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