Parmesan shortbreads
I go into auto-Parmesan-shortbread mode whenever I have friends coming for supper, as not only is it perfect with drinks, but it can be made in advance. Indeed you can make the dough, wrap it and then leave it in the fridge for up to three days before slicing an baking, although you will need to let these cheese-scented cylinders sit out on a kitchen surface just long enough to get the fridge-chill off them before slicing.
Ingredients
- 150²µ/5½´Ç³ú plain flour
- 75²µ/2¾´Ç³ú Parmesan (or similar vegetarian hard cheese), grated
- 100g/3½oz unsalted butter, softened
- 1 free-range egg yolk
Method
Mix all the ingredients together – using bowl and spoon, electric mixer or food processor as wished – until a golden dough begins to form a clump.
Turn it out onto a surface and knead for about 30 seconds until smooth, then divide into two.
Take the first half and, using your hands, roll it into a cylinder, as uniform as possible without stressing over it, about 3cm/1¼in diameter. Make sure the ends are flat, too, so that the cylinder resembles a roll of coins. Now wrap this up in a piece of cling film, twisting the cling film at the ends, like a Christmas cracker, and put the roll in the fridge, then proceed in the same way with the remaining half of the dough.
Preheat the oven to 180C/375F/Gas 4 while the dough rests in the fridge for about 45 minutes, by which time you should be able to cut them into thick slices easily; aim for about 1cm, think fat pound coins or similar.
Arrange on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment and put in the oven for 15-20 minutes, when they should be just beginning to turn a pale gold at the edges.
Remove from the oven, then leave to cool (if you can) before eating.
Recipe Tips
These can be made ahead to the end of step 3 and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen, wrapped in a double layer of clingfilm and a layer of foil, for up to 3 months (defrost overnight in the fridge). Bake as directed in the recipe. Sliced dough can also be frozen on parchment-lined baking sheets until solid, then transferred to plastic bags and kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen as directed in the recipe. Baked shortbreads will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.