Description
Delicious and easy-to-make Pesto-Cheese Straws featuring a crispy puff pastry base layered with rich pesto, parmesan, and mature cheddar cheese. Perfect as a savory snack or appetizer, these golden twists bring together bold flavors and crunchy texture in every bite.
Ingredients
Pastry & Spread
- 350 g puff pastry
- 2 tbsp pesto (more if wanted!)
Cheese
- 100 g parmesan cheese, grated
- 100 g mature cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 220ºC (200ºC fan) and line baking trays with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll out your ready-made puff pastry evenly to about the thickness of a £1 coin, creating a thin, flexible base.
- Spread Pesto: Evenly spread the pesto over the entire surface of the puff pastry; this layer not only adds vibrant flavor but also helps the cheese adhere well.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle both grated parmesan and mature cheddar cheese generously over the pesto layer, covering it thoroughly for maximum cheesy goodness.
- Cut or Fold Pastry: You can either cut the pastry into 1cm-wide strips now, or fold the pastry in half, gently roll it back to the original thickness to trap more of the cheese and pesto inside, then cut into 1cm strips.
- Twist Strips: Take each pastry strip and twist it several times to create curly cheese straws that will bake into a crunchy, textured snack.
- Final Cheese Topping: Optionally scatter a little more grated cheese over the twisted strips for an extra cheesy crust once baked.
- Bake: Place the twisted cheese straws on the prepared baking trays and bake in the oven for approximately 12 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cheese straws to cool slightly before serving, enabling them to set perfectly for optimal crunch and flavor.
Notes
- Use good quality pesto for the best flavor impact.
- You can prepare these ahead of time and freeze before baking; just add a couple of extra minutes to baking time if baking from frozen.
- Adjust baking time as needed depending on your oven as some may brown quicker.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the puff pastry with a gluten-free alternative.
- These cheese straws pair beautifully with a crisp white wine or as a savory snack at gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Snack, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cheese straws (approx. 40g)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
