Cheese Straws

Cheese straws are an elegant, twisted aperitif bite that vanishes before the guests in minutes.

1. Roll the puff pastry out into a rectangle on a floured board.

2. Sprinkle half of it with the grated cheddar and the parmesan, then with a pinch of cayenne pepper.

3. Fold the other half of the pastry over and roll it out gently so the cheese sticks in.

4. Cut it into strips about 1.5 cm wide.

5. Hold each strip by its two ends and twist it 3-4 times, then lay it on a baking-paper-lined tray.

6. Brush with beaten egg and bake at 200 °C for 12-15 minutes, until golden and crisp.

Tip: Mature, characterful cheddar is much better than a neutral cheese; the twisted shape is not just decoration – it makes every side crisp. It is best fresh.