My last recipe of the year is a one you will love…….or hate.
One of its few ingredients is the M-word. That’s right - MARMITE!
This yeast extract spread can really polarise opinion, but for those of us who love it, we can’t get enough of its meaty, umami taste.
And despite it’s beefy taste, it is totally vegetarian and healthy as well.
Combined with crispy, light puff pastry and a good strong cheese, these simple to make twists make the perfect party nibble with drinks, but just make sure you make enough, because seriously, once you have the first one, they are so moreish and delicious that you won’t stop.
INGREDIENTS
1 sheet of ready - rolled puff pastry (all butter is best)
2 teaspoons of marmite - approx 30-40g
75g of strong cheddar cheese, finely grated
Some finely grated parmesan for sprinkling
METHOD
Lay out the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and cut into 10-12 lengths.
I cut the strips about 1¼ inch wide and that gave me 11 strips.
Loosen the marmite by heating in the microwave for about 15 seconds or by stirring a teaspoon of hot water into it (this will make it easier to spread).
Using a pastry brush, ‘paint’ the strips of pastry with the marmite, until most of the strip is covered. You don’t have to be too exact about this - it’s not the sistine chapel!
Sprinkle over the grated cheddar and gently press down to make sure the cheese adheres to the marmite covered pastry strips. It should do, as marmite seems to be the stickiest substance on earth, as no doubt you’ll find.
Cut the strips in half so you will now have 22 smaller strips if you started with 11. Maths was never my strongest subject at school but even I can work that out.
Hold each end of a strip, and twist in opposite directions to give you a nice tight spiral, and place on a baking paper-covered oven tray.
Once you have ‘twisted’ all 22, brush them over with a little egg wash (1 beaten egg and teaspoon of milk) and sprinkle over the grated parmesan.
Bake in a 200℃/180℃ fan oven for 15-20 minutes until they are golden and crispy. Remove onto a cooling rack, but a word of warning. These are so good straight out of the oven that unless you have made enough, your guests may end up sharing one between them all!