100g Mature Cheddar Cheese, grated

110g Plain Flour

175ml Cold Water

½tsp Salt

75g Butter

3 Eggs

“Gougères” sound so much more glamorous than “cheesy puffs” but this is essentially what they are! A deliciously light choux pastry flavoured with mature cheddar. A warm pile of these delicious bites served on a large platter is all that is needed by way of an appetiser (or even a starter, if you are really feeling the pinch) and the beauty of them is that they can be made in advance, frozen and then popped in the oven to heat through for 5 minutes as your guests arrive. Please don’t be put off by the thought of making choux pastry – these are incredibly easy.

Preheat the oven to 180˚C/350˚F/ Gas Mark 4

  1. Place the water, salt and butter in a pan over a medium heat. Bring just to the boil, then remove from the heat. Add the flour and stir constantly using a wooden spoon until it is all combined, then beat the mixture until it is smooth and pulls away from the sides. If it doesn’t pull away from the sides of the pan, return it to the heat for a minute.
  2. Remove from the heat and beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring that each egg is completely incorporated before you add the next. Keep beating until you have a mixture that is smooth, glossy and slightly sticky. Stir in approximately three-quarters of the cheese.
  3. Using two dessertspoons to help you form a ball, place small, walnut sized blobs on to two greased baking sheets about 5cm apart. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese and bake until the puffs are golden which should take about 25–30 minutes.
  4. You can either serve them straight away or store in an airtight container for up to three days. Warm in the oven at about 200˚C/400˚F/Gas Mark 6 for a few minutes. Alternatively, you can freeze them for up to a month and reheat as before, once they have defrosted.

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether

Rhubarb & pistachio loaf cake

Serves 10Prep time: 10 minutesCooking time: 55 minutes A great way to make the most of rhubarb season – this easy loaf cake pairs beautifully with crushed pistachios and a rosewater syrup. Serve it with a dollop of crème fraîche...

Spring onion, walnut & sundried tomato sourdough

Serves 8-10Prep time: 4 hours (45 minutes hands on time), plus overnight proofing.If using instant yeast: 2 hoursBaking time: 4 minutes Bread is a great excuse to bring people together, and this enriched sourdough loaf is a wonderful accompaniment to...

Rhubarb & pistachio scones

Makes 8-10Prep time: 15 minutesBaking time: 25 minutes Scones are the perfect excuse to get everyone together around the table with a cup of tea. This recipe comes together quickly, resulting in an easy-to-handle dough that you can mould into...