Spaghetti with cheese and dill, creamy cașcaval sauce

Spaghetti with cheese and dill is usually served hot as a main course, and it comes out creamy, with the cheese melted into the milk sauce. The thick cașcaval (a semi-hard yellow cheese) sauce, made with milk and a little flour, clings well to the pasta. I made these for the Misterioasa challenge, and I eat them best hot, with fresh dill on top. Prep: 15 minutes. Cooking: 25 minutes. Total time: 40 minutes. Servings: 4. About 660 kcal and 30 g protein per serving.
Ingredients
- 250 g spaghetti
- 2000 ml water
- 1 teaspoon salt (for the water)
- 300 g cașcaval
- 1 medium onion (150 g)
- 300 ml milk
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 40 g butter
- 15 g fresh dill
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
Preparation
1. Bring 2000 ml water to a boil with 1 teaspoon of salt, then add the spaghetti and cook for 10 minutes, until al dente. Drain. 2. Cut the onion into julienne strips. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat and sauté the onion for 5 minutes, until glassy. 3. Mix 3 tablespoons of flour with 300 ml milk until there are no lumps, then pour it over the onion. Add 15 g chopped fresh dill and leave on medium heat for 4 minutes, stirring, until the sauce thickens. 4. Grate the cașcaval on the small grater. Add the drained spaghetti and the cașcaval to the pan, stir and leave on the heat for 5-6 minutes, stirring now and then, until the cheese melts. 5. Add 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper and 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, taste and adjust.
Notes
If the sauce gets too thick before the spaghetti goes in, loosen it with 2-3 tablespoons of the cooking water. Salted or well-aged cașcaval makes the sauce saltier, so taste before adding salt. It goes well with a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers. It keeps for up to 3 days in the fridge, in a closed container. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free spaghetti and replace the flour with 1 1/2 tablespoons of starch, mixed into 2 tablespoons of cold water and added to the sauce as it boils; the recipe contains gluten and dairy.
Frequently asked questions
What cheese can I use instead of cașcaval?
Young Gouda or mild cheddar, finely grated, melts well in the same amount. Telemea stays crumbly and does not melt.
What if the sauce turns out lumpy?
Take the pan off the heat and whisk the sauce with a spoonful of cold milk until it is smooth.
What can I use instead of dill?
Chopped fresh parsley, 15 g, can replace the dill, but the taste is different, without the anise aroma of dill.
Can I use penne or fusilli instead of spaghetti?
Yes, penne or fusilli work well. Cook them for 10 minutes, until al dente, and mix them in the same way.
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