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Sorghum Käsespätzle with Caramelized Onions and Kielbasa

By Olivia Counter

Published on December 9, 2023

Time

1½ hours, plus 15 minutes resting

Yield

Serves 6

Sorghum Käsespätzle with Caramelized Onions and Kielbasa

Ingredients

5 ounces (142 grams/1 cup) sorghum flour 5 ounces (142 grams/1 cup) all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon pepper, divided ¾ teaspoon table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking spätzle¾ cup whole milk 3 large eggs 1 (13 by 9-inch) disposable aluminum pan 4 ounces (113 grams) fontina cheese, shredded (1 cup)4 ounces (113 grams) Gruyère cheese, shredded (1 cup)2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 14 ounces (397 grams) kielbasa sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise ½-inch thick1 large onion, halved and sliced thin1 cup sauerkraut, drained and squeezed dry2 teaspoons yellow mustard ¼ teaspoon caraway seeds 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Before You Begin

The holes in both a potato ricer and a colander are too big to act as a makeshift spätzle press. Instead, we poke holes in a disposable aluminum pan and set the pan directly over the boiling water. You can use a spätzle maker or a food mill with ¼-inch wide holes if you have one.

Instructions

  1. Whisk sorghum flour, all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon pepper, and ½ teaspoon salt together in large bowl. Whisk milk and eggs together in second bowl. Slowly whisk milk mixture into flour mixture until smooth. Cover and let rest for 15 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, use skewer to poke about forty ¼-inch-wide holes in bottom of disposable pan, moving skewer in circular motions to widen holes as needed. Combine fontina and Gruyère in third bowl. 
  2. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in Dutch oven. Add 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and set prepared disposable pan on top of Dutch oven. Transfer half of batter to disposable pan. Use spatula to scrape batter across holes, letting batter fall into water and stirring to prevent clumping. Boil until all spätzle float, about 30 seconds. Using spider skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer spätzle to colander set in large bowl to drain. Repeat with remaining batter. Toss drained spätzle with butter and set aside. Drain leftover cooking water in Dutch oven and wipe pot dry with paper towel. 
  3. Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler and heat broiler. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty Dutch oven over medium heat until just smoking. Add kielbasa and cook, stirring occasionally, until spotty brown, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer kielbasa to bowl with spätzle. 
  4. Add onion and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt to fat left in pot and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is golden brown, about 15 minutes, adjusting heat and adding water 1 tablespoon at a time if onion or bottom of pot becomes too dark. 
  5. Off heat, stir in reserved spätzle-kielbasa mixture, ¾ cup cheese mixture, sauerkraut, mustard, caraway seeds, and remaining ½ teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle remaining cheese mixture evenly over top. Broil until bubbling and cheese is browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with dill. Serve.
Sorghum Käsespätzle with Caramelized Onions and Kielbasa
Photography by Daniel J. van Ackere. Styling by Ashley Moore.

Sorghum Käsespätzle with Caramelized Onions and Kielbasa

Save

Time

1½ hours, plus 15 minutes resting

Yield

Serves 6

Ingredients

5 ounces (142 grams/1 cup) sorghum flour
5 ounces (142 grams/1 cup) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
¾ teaspoon table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking spätzle
¾ cup whole milk
3 large eggs
1 (13 by 9-inch) disposable aluminum pan
4 ounces (113 grams) fontina cheese, shredded (1 cup)
4 ounces (113 grams) Gruyère cheese, shredded (1 cup)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
14 ounces (397 grams) kielbasa sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise ½-inch thick
1 large onion, halved and sliced thin
1 cup sauerkraut, drained and squeezed dry
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
¼ teaspoon caraway seeds
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Ingredients

5 ounces (142 grams/1 cup) sorghum flour
5 ounces (142 grams/1 cup) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
¾ teaspoon table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking spätzle
¾ cup whole milk
3 large eggs
1 (13 by 9-inch) disposable aluminum pan
4 ounces (113 grams) fontina cheese, shredded (1 cup)
4 ounces (113 grams) Gruyère cheese, shredded (1 cup)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
14 ounces (397 grams) kielbasa sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise ½-inch thick
1 large onion, halved and sliced thin
1 cup sauerkraut, drained and squeezed dry
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
¼ teaspoon caraway seeds
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Ingredients

5 ounces (142 grams/1 cup) sorghum flour
5 ounces (142 grams/1 cup) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
¾ teaspoon table salt, divided, plus salt for cooking spätzle
¾ cup whole milk
3 large eggs
1 (13 by 9-inch) disposable aluminum pan
4 ounces (113 grams) fontina cheese, shredded (1 cup)
4 ounces (113 grams) Gruyère cheese, shredded (1 cup)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
14 ounces (397 grams) kielbasa sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise ½-inch thick
1 large onion, halved and sliced thin
1 cup sauerkraut, drained and squeezed dry
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
¼ teaspoon caraway seeds
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Why This Recipe Works

A homey cross between egg noodles and dumplings, spätzle is a slightly chewy, light, and buttery noodle dish traditionally served with chicken paprikash and other stews. For this version, we use a combination of all-purpose flour and sorghum flour and add cheese. Sorghum has a mild, earthy flavor and has been called the most wheat-like of the gluten-free flours. Letting the batter rest before making the noodles is a necessary step; it allows the gluten to relax and results in more tender spätzle. We incorporate the hearty flavors of kielbasa, sauerkraut, mustard, and caraway into our comforting dish. 

Before You Begin

The holes in both a potato ricer and a colander are too big to act as a makeshift spätzle press. Instead, we poke holes in a disposable aluminum pan and set the pan directly over the boiling water. You can use a spätzle maker or a food mill with ¼-inch wide holes if you have one.

Instructions

  1. Whisk sorghum flour, all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon pepper, and ½ teaspoon salt together in large bowl. Whisk milk and eggs together in second bowl. Slowly whisk milk mixture into flour mixture until smooth. Cover and let rest for 15 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, use skewer to poke about forty ¼-inch-wide holes in bottom of disposable pan, moving skewer in circular motions to widen holes as needed. Combine fontina and Gruyère in third bowl. 
  2. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in Dutch oven. Add 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and set prepared disposable pan on top of Dutch oven. Transfer half of batter to disposable pan. Use spatula to scrape batter across holes, letting batter fall into water and stirring to prevent clumping. Boil until all spätzle float, about 30 seconds. Using spider skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer spätzle to colander set in large bowl to drain. Repeat with remaining batter. Toss drained spätzle with butter and set aside. Drain leftover cooking water in Dutch oven and wipe pot dry with paper towel. 
  3. Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler and heat broiler. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty Dutch oven over medium heat until just smoking. Add kielbasa and cook, stirring occasionally, until spotty brown, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer kielbasa to bowl with spätzle. 
  4. Add onion and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt to fat left in pot and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is golden brown, about 15 minutes, adjusting heat and adding water 1 tablespoon at a time if onion or bottom of pot becomes too dark. 
  5. Off heat, stir in reserved spätzle-kielbasa mixture, ¾ cup cheese mixture, sauerkraut, mustard, caraway seeds, and remaining ½ teaspoon pepper. Sprinkle remaining cheese mixture evenly over top. Broil until bubbling and cheese is browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with dill. Serve.

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