A recipe for Gruyère Gougères appetizers, tiny crisp pastry pillows made with choux dough bursting with intense Gruyère flavor.
I would like to be the type of person that throws parties. Big, raucous celebrations with champagne flutes and confetti, music playing in that just-loud-enough way where you can dance to it but still talk to your neighbor without screaming until you’re hoarse. The lights would twinkle in the background in a magical way, guests unable to find the source of their wonderment. It would be the type of affair everyone leaves with a bright light in their belly and a grin on their face, unable to think of a way it could have gone better.
There would be food aplenty at such a scene, for certain. Gougères, their crisp outer shell giving way to airy, chewy insides, crostini and salads, hot chocolate served alongside dessert. Dessert would be a multi-course affair, with guests unable to decide between all the sugar-laced treats laid out before them. The entire evening would whisper with enchantment.
Of course, we’d need something to be celebrating, and who better to celebrate with such idyllic gathering than an enchantress in the kitchen and in life? Bev of BevCooks is decidedly worthy of such a soirée as she has made carrying twins appear effortless.
Sugar and sass and a bit of silliness would be how I would describe this lovely lady, and I so look forward to seeing those sweet babies once they make their appearance. If they’re anything like their mama, it will be quite the appearance. Bev is continuously cooking enviable eats in the kitchen, always with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor or just outright absurdity. She makes everything look good, including the third trimester with twins. Congratulations, Bev!
Today we’re throwing a virtual baby shower, complete with sparkling champagne flutes and multiple courses of festive food. To the party I’m bringing gougères, French cheese puffs made from choux pastry dough with crisp outer shells and soft, chewy insides. They can be filled with cheeses or creams, sliced open and treated like sandwiches, or enjoyed just as they are. Best served warm, bake them just before serving, or bake ahead and reheat for 5 minutes in a 300º F oven.
Tiny crisp pastry pillows made with choux dough bursting with intense Gruyère flavor
Ingredients
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
pinch cayenne pepper
1 cup flour
4 large eggs
2 ounces grated Parmesan (1/2 cup)
6 ounces grated Gruyère (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 large egg yolk
sea salt, optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400º F.
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of water, the milk, butter, kosher salt, and cayenne. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Immediately add the flour. Stir quickly into the mixture with a wooden spoon until the dough pulls away from the pan and forms a ball, cooking for an additional minute while stirring.
Remove the dough from the heat and place in a food processor, pulsing twice, and then allowing to cool at least five minutes. Mix in the eggs one at a time, pulsing after each addition until incorporated. Add in the cheese, reserving two tablespoons, and pepper and mix just until combined.
Place the dough in a pastry bag and pipe into 1-tablespoon rounds on a parchment- or baking-mat-lined baking sheet, 2" apart. Alternatively, scoop balls using a small scoop or two spoons onto the lined baking sheet.
Beat the egg yolk with one teaspoon of water. Brush lightly over the top of the rounds with a pastry brush. Sprinkle with reserved cheese and a bit of sea salt, if desired.
Bake for 25 minutes, until rounds are golden brown and dry in the center. They should sound hollow when tapped.
Serve warm. These can be reheated for a few minutes in the oven just before serving.
You could grate it to serve with pasta or salads, as it is not too overpowering. If you are serving it as part of a cheeseboard, try to include fruits such as pears, apples, and grapes. The sweetness of these fruits is excellent against the nuttiness of the cheese. Cut it into thin slices that your guests can enjoy.
The secret to gougères' puff is the addition of eggs, but here's the thing — too many eggs and the dough will be too wet to properly puff. Whats more, the number of eggs your dough will need varies depending on the flour you use, how long you cooked the paste, and the weather (seriously!
Even better - keep these little cheese puffs frozen, ready to bake, always. Gougères are my secret weapon this time of year. This means a bag in the freezer, always at the ready. I make the dough ahead of time (any afternoon I have a few extra minutes) then bake them straight from the freezer whenever I fancy.
To make Gruyère, raw cow's milk is heated to 34 °C (93 °F) in a copper vat, and then curdled by the addition of liquid rennet. The curd is cut up into pea-sized pieces and stirred, releasing whey. The curd is cooked at 43 °C (109 °F), and raised quickly to 54 °C (129 °F).
Gruyere cheese is also a perfect accompaniment to crackers, fruits, bread and pecans, as well as a wide range of meats such as ham, salami, prosciutto. In fact, it's also one of the best cheeses to use in a chicken cordon bleu.
But I do find that I enjoy the rinds of most washed rind cheeses. Examples of washed rind cheeses include soft cheeses such as taleggio, Winnimere, Epoisses and hard rind cheeses including Gruyère.
Due to the dough being so delicate, starting them off in a very hot oven — 450 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact — will ensure they rapidly puff, whereas starting them in a cool oven could lead to deflated pancakes.
For successful gougères it is very important that you beat in as many tiny air bubbles as you can. Use an electric beater if you can. The air you introduce at this stage is the reason gougères will rise, by helping the water turn into steam and inflate the dough. No air means flat gougères.
What Gougeres taste like. They're crusty on the outside, soft and hollow on the inside, and they're very, very cheesy. Essentially, they are the savoury cheesy version of everybody's favourite Profiteroles!
Hard cheese (Emmentaler, Gruyère) and raclette cheese as well as extra hard cheese (Sbrinz) are types of cheese that are best suited to freezing. However, if stored correctly, they can also be kept in the fridge for many weeks.
Avoid a skin on the frozen gougères by covering them lightly with plastic wrap before freezing. Move the gougères to an airtight container or zip-top bag for long-term storage. This protects the gougères and saves freezer space.
The texture is smooth and firm with small holes or "eyes" throughout. Gruyère is considered an expensive cheese due to a few reasons: Firstly, it's made from raw milk, which is more expensive to produce than pasteurized milk. Secondly, it's aged for a minimum of 5 months, which is longer than most other cheeses.
Calcium lactate is common in aged cheese. It is basically a natural calcium buildup that occurs over time during the aging process, and it sometimes will become visible on the surface of the cheese. Don't worry – it is completely natural and safe to eat!
Gruyère is known for its rich, creamy, salty, and nutty flavor. However, its flavor does vary depending on age: Young Gruyère has pronounced creaminess and nuttiness, while older Gruyère has developed an earthiness that is a bit more complex.
Gruyere, gouda and other cheese which aren't entirely hard or soft can meanwhile be stored in a fridge for two to three weeks after they are opened, or two months in the freezer if the packet is untouched.
A wonderful melting cheese, Gruyère is also ideal for fondues and dips. Why does it melt so beautifully? Gruyère has a high water-to-oil ratio. This extra water ensures that cheese melts evenly instead of separating into pools of fat.
A palate of vast complexity, Gruyere enjoys ever evolving nuances. Opening with full-bodied, fruity tones, the flavors slowly journey towards earthy and nutty with a soft finale to finish. Covered by a natural rind, the texture of the body is dense during its youth, becoming flaky and somewhat granular as it ages.
Because it is a mild cheese, Gruyere is a great addition to charcuterie boards. It can be layered on top of crackers, it can be paired with salty, cured meats, it can be smothered with jams…
Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204
Phone: +2135150832870
Job: Regional Design Producer
Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games
Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.