#cheese choux

[vannimamibaking]

Gougeres, gruyere cheese balls for a salty snack. The base is a plain choux pastry, and before baking the gruyere cheese is mixed in, and after scooped out to balls to a baking sheet also sprinkled on top. Quick and easy party food.

[askwhatsforlunch]

Beaufort Gougères

Whether you’re in your isolation bubble alone, with a lover or with family, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy a treat and a drink on a Friday evening. Gougères are simply savoury, cheesy choux; and these Beaufort Gougères require very little time, very few ingredients and not a lot of skill to make. And yet, they are an elegant, delightfully cheesy and light treat, best enjoyed with sweet white wine, a glass of Port or a cocktail! Happy Friday!

Ingredients (makes 16):

75 grams/2.65 ounces unsalted butter

1/2 cup water

a pinch of salt

150 grams/5.30 ounces plain flour

3 eggs

100 grams/3.5 ounces good quality Beaufort cheese (you can also use a sharp, mature English Cheddar)

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds

Cut butter into small chunks into a medium saucepan. Cover with water, and add salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, until butter melts. 

Once the butter is melted and the water just boiling, remove from the heat, and add the flour all at once. Stir well, and return over a medium flame, stirring with a wooden spoon, about 3 minutes. 

Remove from the heat, and let cool a bit.

Preheat oven to 180°C/355°F.  Line a baking tray with baking paper; set aside. 

Once the flour and butter mixture has cooled for about 5 minutes, add the eggs, one at a time, beating them in energetically with the wooden spoon, until beautifully smooth and shiny.

Using the coarse side of a box grater, grate Beaufort (or Cheddar). Stir grated Beaufort into the choux pastry.

Using two tablespoons, shape a heaped tablespoonful of cheesy coux pastry into a ball, and place onto prepared baking tray. Repeat with remaining choux pastry, until you have about sixteen. 

Sprinkle cumin seeds onto half of the choux, and sesame seeds onto the other half. Place baking tary in the middle of the hot oven, and bake, at 180°C/355°F, 25 minutes.

Serve Beaufort Gougères warm, with a glass of chilled, fruity sweet white wine, with which they pair well!