Cheese straws seem to be a must-have for any party, particularly if it’s a buffet type. They’re also great nibbles with drinks. So why not prepare these for your New Year’s Eve party?
Prep time: 25 minutes/Cook time: 20 minutes/Makes: 20
Ingredients:
500g all-butter puff pastry
plain flour, for dusting
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp onion flakes
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tbsp poppy seeds
1 tsp flaky sea salt
125g soft cheese
50g parmesan, grated
Method:
Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly-floured work surface to a rectangle about 2mm thick. Brush the surface with a thin coating of beaten egg. Mix the onion flakes, seeds and flaky sea salt, then scatter over the pastry, pressing gently to help them stick. Dust with a little flour to dry out any sticky areas.
Carefully flip the pastry onto a floured sheet of baking parchment so the seedy topping is now underneath. Spread over the soft cheese, then scatter with the parmesan. Season with a little black pepper. Fold the pastry in half, like closing a book. Lightly roll the pastry just to help the two sides stick.
Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the pastry into long strips. Twist each strip a few times to make the classic cheese straw shape and lay on the baking tray, pressing the ends onto the tray to prevent them from unravelling in the oven. Chill for at least 20 minutes.
Pre-heat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan/400°F/gas mark 6). When hot, place the cheese straws in the centre and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for a few minutes before serving.
