There are few things yummier than puff pastry cheese straws.
I don't care how old you are, a batch of these coming out of the oven will have you swooning.
So here's taking a classic and turning them into a all-grown-up-gourmet variety that will appease not only the kiddies around the holiday table but all adults with discerning paletes.
Let's be clear about one thing though - this post hardly classifies as a recipe. After all, can a recipe with 3 ingredients, namely, aged parmigiano reggiano cheese, z'atar and frozen puff pastry sheets and 15 minutes in the oven be classified as such?
Who the heck knows!
One bite and they'll be your next best friend when ever company is over or you want to make a ooh-la-la statement without letting on that you hardly broke a sweat fixing these.
For kitchen divas everywhere, here goes!
Gather the ingredients -1 sheet from packaged Pepperidge Farm puff pastry (defrosted overnight in the refrigerator), 1-1/2 tsp z'atar spice blend & 3-4 tbs aged parmigiano reggiano cheese - shredded.
Line a cookie sheet or a 11" x 17" jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
Preheat the oven to 400 deg F.
- On a clean working surface place a large swatch of parchment paper. Spread the cheese and sprinkle the spice in an area that will fit the puff pastry sheet.
- Place the puff pastry sheet (opened up) over the cheese mixture and gently press down so as much of the mixture will adhere to the bottom of the sheet.
- You can also use fingers to adhere some cheese mixture to particular bald spots on the pastry sheet.
- Turn the pastry sheet over and press down again to get as much as the cheese & z'aatar mixture onto the puff pastry.
- Using a ruler/scale and a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the pastry into 3/4" wide strips.
- Line a cookie sheet or a 11" x 17" jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
- Gently lift one strip at a time and place onto the sheet. Holding the top end down gently with a finger, twist the strip into a spiral. Repeat for all the remaining strips.
- Bake for about 12-15 minutes till puffy and a beautiful golden brown.
- Serve immediately as they are best enjoyed hot from the oven!
Crisp & flaky puff straws with the wonderful flavor of baked aged cheese and unique scent of z'atar spices. Best eaten warm out of the oven - what's not to love?!
Recipe for
Cheese & Z'atar Puff Straws
Serves 4
Preparation time - 10 minutes
Baking time - 12-15 minutes
Shopping list
1 sheet from packaged Pepperidge Farm puff pastry (defrosted overnight in the refrigerator)
1-1/2 tsp z'atar spice blend (Available at specialty herb stores, online @ penzeys.com)
3-4 tbs aged shredded parmigiano reggiano cheese
Method:
Preheat the oven to 400 deg F- On a clean working surface place a large swatch of parchment paper. Spread the cheese and sprinkle the spice in an area that will fit the puff pastry sheet.
- Place the puff pastry sheet (opened up) over the cheese mixture and gently press down so as much of the mixture will adhere to the bottom of the sheet.
- You can also use fingers to adhere some cheese mixture to particular bald spots on the pastry sheet.
- Turn the pastry sheet over and press down again to get as much as the cheese & z'aatar mixture onto the puff pastry.
- Using a ruler/scale and a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the pastry into 3/4" wide strips.
- Line a cookie sheet or a 11" x 17" jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
- Gently lift one strip at a time and place onto the sheet. Holding the top end down gently with a finger, twist the strip into a spiral. Repeat for all the remaining strips.
- Bake for about 12-15 minutes till puffy and a beautiful golden brown. Serve immediately as they are best enjoyed hot from the oven!
