homemade cheese straws recipe

This delectable cheese straw recipe is ideal for your Christmas cocktail party, and it's simple enough that your kids can help.

Cheese straws are a popular snack, whether served alone or with a delicious dip. This recipe from Nathan Outlaw uses wonderful mature cheddar and smoked paprika for a lovely, savory flavor, but feel free to experiment with other spices for different tastes.

Homemade cheese straws might sound like more trouble than they're worth, but they come together quickly and easily and are way better than any store-bought version.

Ingredients

  200 grams of flour margarine

  75g 50g of cheese (grated) 

 Chili powder 

 1 teaspoon salt

4-6 tablespoons of water

 

Method

 

1. Sieve the flour and rub it in until it has a sandy texture.

 

2. Stir in the grated cheese and cayenne pepper to taste.

 

3. Make a well in the middle.

 

4. Stir in enough lightly salted water to make a firm dough.

 

5. Use as little force as possible.

 

6. Roll it out to 1/8-inch thickness. Make four circles about 2 inches in diameter.

7. Using a smaller cutter, remove the center, leaving a 1/4-inch-wide circle.

 

8. Cut the remaining paste into 3 1/4-inch stripes.

9. Twirl each one or two times. Place on a baking sheet that has been lightly greased.

10. Bake in a hot oven approximately 10 minutes until goldenbrown.

 11. To serve, place a bundle of straws into each circles.

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Recipe Tip

To make it easier to rub in the butter, freeze it before grating it into the pastry. You could also make this in a food processor, but be careful not to overmix the pastry. Simply pulse until it comes together.

What are you supposed to eat with cheese straws?

These crisp and flaky cheese straws with fresh herbs and crushed red chili flakes make an excellent hors d'oeuvre to accompany wine and cocktails, but they're also delicious with a bowl of tomato or vegetable soup. They resemble bread sticks but are more akin to savory pie crust or pastry.

What material are cheese straws made of?

 

Puff pastry is cut into strips and twisted into "straws" to make cheese straws. Hundreds upon hundreds of thin layers of dough and butter go into making this pastry. These layers puff up dramatically and become incredibly crispy in the oven.

 

Do you store cheese straws in the refrigerator?

 

These can be put together and refrigerated for up to a day, or frozen for up to two months. Bake straight from the fridge or freezer, adding a few minutes if frozen. The cheese straws are best served within a few hours of baking, but they will keep for a day or two if sealed in an airtight container or a cello bag.