After following the recipe exactly (and, yes, getting the physical workout stirring in the eggs), I decided that there was not enough cheese flavor. I used a two-year aged white cheddar, so it wasn't for a lack on that. I grated enough cheese into the mixture until I was satisfied -- turned out to be about 1/2 pound. Right out of the oven, these are outrageously good. I stuffed the leftovers the next day with a crab salad -- cut them in half, filled them with a recipe I found at http://www.docstoc.com/docs/46011109/Crab-Salad-Puffs-Recipe and put the lid back on. The cutest -- and tastiest -- crab sandwich you can imagine. Everyone raved!
Salt-and-Pepper Cheese Puffs (Gougères)
James Carrier
People are raving about this extremely appealing appetizer. Make these puffs in advance and freeze them for whenever you are planning your party. They will still taste great!
Yield: Makes 48 puffs; 12 to 14 servings
Recipe from
More From Sunset
Nutritional Information
Amount per serving
- Calories: 53
- Calories from fat: 61%
- Protein: 1.9g
- Fat: 3.6g
- Saturated fat: 2g
- Carbohydrate: 3.1g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Sodium: 87mg
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter, cut into chunks
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 6 large eggs, beaten to blend
- 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (see notes)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh-ground pepper
- Coarse sea salt (see notes)
- Parchment paper
Preparation
- 1. In a 3- to 4-quart pan over high heat, bring 1 1/2 cups water and the butter to a full rolling boil. Remove from heat, add flour all at once, and stir until mixture is a smooth, thick paste with no lumps. Add a quarter of the beaten eggs at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition until dough is no longer slippery. Stir in cheese and pepper.
- 2. Spoon dough into a large pastry bag fitted with a plain 1/2-inch round tip. Pipe in 48 equal mounds on two cooking parchment-lined or buttered 12- by 15-inch baking sheets. (Alternatively, drop dough on sheets in slightly rounded tablespoon-size portions.) Sprinkle each mound with a few grains of coarse sea salt.
- 3. Bake in a 400° regular or convection oven until dry and well browned, about 30 minutes. Serve warm (see notes).
- Nutritional analysis per puff.
Note:
These easy puffs are especially good made with strongly flavored, aged white English, Irish, or Canadian cheddar. We like to use an imported sea salt with pretty, crunchy crystals, such as fleur de sel, Halen Môn, or Maldon, but any coarse sea salt will work. The puffs can be made up to 1 month ahead and frozen; cool, then freeze airtight. Reheat thawed puffs, uncovered, in a 375° oven until crisp and hot, about 5 minutes.
Salt-and-Pepper Cheese Puffs (Gougères) Recipe at a Glance
- COURSE: Appetizers
- CONVENIENCE: Freezable, Make-Ahead
- CUISINE: American
- MAIN INGREDIENT: Cheese
- DIETARY CONSIDERATION: Meatless
- COOKING METHOD: Bake
- PUBLICATION: Sunset
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