This traditional dish combines simple, regional ingredients to create an incomparable moment of pleasure. Refined with plenty of cheese - typically some of it "sour cheese" - and crispy browned onions, the Knöpfle are a highlight on every plate.
It is traditionally served with apple sauce. The combination of hearty Käsknöpfle and the fruity component creates a harmonious taste experience that delights both locals and guests alike.
Prepare the dough
Place the flour and a little salt in a large bowl. Beat the eggs directly into it. Then mix in the milk and water and pour in slowly until you have a viscous, rather coarse dough. You can now leave the dough to rest for 10-20 minutes - this makes it smoother, but is not a must.
Prepare the cheese
Finely grate the hard cheese and optionally cut the sour cheese into small cubes. Mix both in a large bowl and set aside.
Prepare the onions
Cut the onions into thin strips and place in a sealable bowl or tin. Add about 1 tablespoon of flour, put the lid on and shake well so that all the onion strips are covered with flour. Heat the butter in a frying pan and fry the floury onions slowly over a medium heat - they should get nice and dark and crispy.
"Knöpflen"
Bring a large pan of water to the boil, salt well and then reduce the heat so that the water only boils slightly. Use a spaetzle slicer (or a coarse grater) to slice the dough into the water. As soon as the dumplings float to the top, remove them with a slotted spoon and place them directly into a bowl. Now add some of the prepared cheese on top and fill the bowl with "Knöpfle" and cheese in layers. In other words, repeat with each new portion of dough until it has been used up: scoop into the water, remove, place in the bowl, top with cheese.
Final cheese melt
When all the dumplings are cooked, add the remaining cheese and one or two tablespoons of the hot cooking water. Mix everything well - this will make the cheese nice and stringy.
Serve
Place the roasted onions on top of the dumplings. The dish is traditionally served with apple sauce and/or salad or creamed spinach.
From traditional mountain restaurants to first-class gourmet restaurants - Liechtenstein offers an impressive selection of gastronomic offerings and culinary delights.
