Delices De Fromage (Deep Fried Cheese Squares)

Nyteglori's Note:

From Cuisines of the World; Switzerland

• Total Time: 9 hrs 45 mins
• Prep Time: 9 hrs 30 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 12 squares

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 cup gruyere cheese, freshly grated
• 1 cup emmenthaler cheese, freshly grated
• 2 eggs, beaten together with
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 cup dried breadcrumbs
• vegetable oil (for deep frying)

Directions:

1. Directions.
2. In a heavy 3 to 4-quart saucepan melt the butter over moderate heat. When the foam begins to subside, stir in 3/4 cup of the flour and mix well. Add the milk in a stream whisking constantly. Cook over high heat until the sauce comes to a boil and thickens. Simmer for another 10 minutes on low heat, whisking often.
3. Take the pan off the heat and beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, using a wooden spoon. Season with the salt and pepper. Add the grated cheese and mix well. Pour into a greased baking dish (8 by 6-inches) and spread into a 1/2-inch thick layer. Use a spatula to smooth the top. Allow to cool to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 8 hours, or overnight, until firm.
4. Using a pastry wheel or a sharp knife, cut the mixture into 2-inch squares and transfer them to a sheet of waxed paper. Dredge each square into the remaining flour and coat completely. Shake off excess flour and dip into the egg wash, followed by the bread crumbs. Pat the square gently with a spatula to help the crumbs adhere. Repeat with all the squares and place them on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until the coating is firm.
5. In a deep fryer or heavy saucepan, heat 2 to 3-inches of oil until it reaches 375 degrees. Preheat the oven to its lowest temperature. Line a baking dish with paper towels and set in the middle of the oven.
6. Deep-fry the squares 3 or 4 at a time, turning them with a slotted spoon for about 5 minutes, until golden brown on both sides. As they brown, transfer them to a baking dish in the oven to keep them warm while you deep-fry the rest. Serve at once as a first course or an accompaniment to the drinks.

Reviews

[under12parsecs]

These are nice little appies, cheesy and light. I did think they were in need of a bit of a kick. I wonder about adding a bit of white wine/dijon/garlic to the batter, or making some manner of sauce to dip them in. Thanks for a good jumping-off recipe :)

[evelyn/athens]

We make something very similar here in Greece, incorporating greek cheeses. These fry into light, airy puffs of cheesy goodness...who can resist that?

[Susie D]

My biggest mistake was electing to make a reduced batch of these light puffy bits of cheesy goodness. I sprinkled the squares with smoked paprika as they finished frying, but think cayenne would be nice too. Thank you for sharing the recipe. Made for ZWT7.