La Varenne Gougeres
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 5 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup grated Gruyere cheese (about 2 1/2 ounces)
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper.
- To make the dough, in a medium saucepan, bring the water, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt to a boil over high heat.
- Immediately remove the pan from the heat, add the flour all at once, and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the pan to form a ball, 30 to 60 seconds.
- (This mixture is called the panade.)
- Beat the mixture over low heat for an additional 30 to 60 seconds to dry the mixture.
- To make the egg wash, whisk 1 of the eggs in a small bowl with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt until well mixed; set aside.
- With a wooden spoon, beat the remaining 4 eggs into the dough, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.
- (It will come together, I promise.)
- Beat until the dough is shiny and slides from the spoon.
- Add the grated cheese.
- If using parchment paper to line the baking sheet, glue down the paper at this point with a few dabs of the dough.
- To form the gougeres, use either a tablespoon for a rustic look, or for a more finished appearance, a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip.
- Spoon or pipe 12 mounds of dough about 2 inches in diameter onto the baking sheet, spacing them at least 2 inches apart.
- Brush the puffs with the reserved egg wash.
- Bake until puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
- To test for doneness, remove one puff from the baking sheet and let it cool for 45 to 60 seconds.
- If it remains crisp and doesnt deflate, it is done.
- If not, return it to the oven and continue baking 5 to 10 minutes more.
- Remove to a rack to cool.
- Let the puffs cool slightly on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- These are brilliantly resilient and freeze beautifully.
- Once cooled, store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 4 weeks.
- Warm and re-crisp in a 350F oven, 5 to 7 minutes.
- To make 30 to 35 medium puffs, adjust the ingredient amounts as follows: 1 1/4 cups flour, 1 cup water, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 6 1/2 tablespoons butter, 5 eggs, and 1 cup cheese.
water, unsalted butter, coarse salt, flour, eggs, gruyere cheese
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/la-varenne-gougeres-380288 (may not work)