Love It or Hate It - Marmite and Cheese Straws With a Twist!

French Tart's Note:

Another one of my daughter's recipes - she always makes these for us when she is home. Cheesy, crispy and flaky pastry straws with a lick of marmite - great for pre-dinner drinks, picnics, lunch boxes or snacks. The Marmite company has a very clever advert that announces that you either LOVE Marmite or HATE it! I love it, that's why it has been added to these delicious Cheese Straws........however, if you HATE it - I have suggested alternatives. My daughter only ever uses Marmite in her cheese straws - but then she is also a Marmite lover! Serve these in a tall glass for tasty appetiser nibbles - if you are using the other flavours, you can lable the glasses so Marmite haters can be pre-warned! Have fun! (For all my Aussie friends - PLEASE use Vegemite if you REALLY have to!!!)

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6-8

Yield: 32.0 Cheese ...

• 1 lb fresh puff pastry
• flour
• 2 tablespoons marmite
• 8 ounces mature cheddar cheese , finely grated

Optional Flavours

• 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato paste (optional)
• 2 tablespoons gentlemen's relish (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fresh pesto sauce (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7.
2. Divide the packet of puff pastry into four and use one portion at a time (popping the rest back in the fridge).
3. On a lightly floured work surface, roll each portion to a rectangle measuring about 31cm x 21cm.
4. Spread the pastry with the marmite and then sprinkle with a quarter of the grated cheese.
5. Fold the pastry over lengthways and press firmly together.
6. Cut about eight 1cm wide strips then cut each strip in half (so the straws aren’t too long) and twist.
7. Arrange on baking sheets and chill for 10 minutes before cooking or freeze until ready to cook, then bake for 7-10 minutes, until golden brown and puffed up - the cheese will also have melted.
8. Trim the ends of the straws and carefully stand in glasses for a spectacular way of serving the straws.
9. Alternatively, freeze the uncooked straws in baking sheets lined with parchment and cook from frozen when your guests arrive - you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time.

Reviews

[Ginsugirl]

My local grocery store sells very good puff pastry ("President's Choice", for all my fellow Canucks), that doesn't even need rolling out, and a friend brought me "Squeezy Marmite" from England. Makes this the easiest husband-pleasing recipe ever. (DH is very proud any time he can convince a Canadian to love Marmite) Hardest work was grating the cheese. Oh the horror! My local patisserie sells cheese straws for about $2.50 each, and they don't even add Marmite! This recipe is good enough to sell!

[Sydney Mike]

Since I have marmite onhand this was not a problem, although I did make half of them with marmite & the other half with sun-dried tomato paste, & both were equally tasty, especially with the sharp cheddar that I used! Fun to make to to serve, & a joy to eat! Thanks for a great addition to my finger food buffet! [Tagged, made & reviewed as a PRESSIE in the Aus/NZ 12 Days of Christmas Recipe Swap]

[LB in Middle Georgia]

We recently moved to the south and I overheard someone talking about cheese straws. I have never had them so of course I went to Zaar to see what I could find. Came across this recipe and was intrigued with Marmite never heard of that either. Being the adventurous type I had to try it. So off to the internet I went, I found a store that sold it where I live. When my husband tried it he was so taken back because it tasted so much like Vitam-R (a little saltier) which he had while staying with his Omi and Opa in Germany. When I first tasted Marmite I wasn’t sure but there was something about it that keeps me coming back for more. Here are some of my thoughts. Puff pastry in the USA must be a little different than in France. Only two puff pastries per box try folded on top of each other. I ended up dividing the ingredients and treating it like two larger per portions rather than four. I think that this was a mistake I should have gotten another box of pastry. I will do this when I make them for Christmas. What happened is there was too much inside the straws and it was over powering the pastry, also because of this the pastry was having a hard time browning to a light crispy texture. The flavor was a nice combination the aged cheddar and marmite complement each other well but next time I will use a little less marmite, just personal taste. I am still giving it 5 stars because We really liked them. Thank you for a new culinary adventure and bring back an old memory.