gougeres (goo-zhair)

Categories

Appetizers

Yield

3 Dozens

preheat 425 degrees. Add butter, salt, pepper and nutmeg to 1 cup water in medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

When butter melts, reduce heat to low. Add flour to butter-water mixture all at once and cook over low heat, beating with a wooden spoon, for 1 minute, until mixture pulls away from sides of pan.

Remove pan from heat. Add cheese to pan and beat in with a wooden spoon until well incorporated. Add 4 of the eggs, 1 at a time, beating each egg into the batter unil thoroughly absorbed. Continue beating mixture until it is smooth, shiny, and firm. Drop batter in small spoonfuls onto a lightly greased cookie sheet to form Gougeres.

Beat remaining egg with ½ tbsp water, then brush tops of uncooked Gougeres with egg wash. Bake in upper third of oven for 15-20 minutes or until Gougeres are golden and doubled in size. Remove from oven and serve hot, or allow to cool to room temperature.