Three Cheese Waffle Sticks

In ‘Waffles’ by Tara Duggan

• Ready In: 1 hr 25 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2  large eggs, separated
• 1 1⁄2 cups buttermilk
• 1⁄3 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 cup cornmeal
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1⁄2 cup  shredded parmesan cheese
• 1⁄2 cup  shredded mozzarella cheese or 1⁄2 cup fontina
• 1⁄2 cup  crumbled feta or 1⁄2 cup  fresh goat cheese

Directions

1. Preheat a waffle-stick maker or regular waffle maker.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, buttermilk, and butter.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper.
4. Using a stand mixer fitter with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites on med-high speed until firm peaks form, 5-6 minutes.
5. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the buttermilk mixture, stirring until just combined.
6. Gently fold in the egg whites, then fold in the three cheeses.
7. Ladle the batter into the waffle maker, using ½-3/4 cup batter per batch if using a waffle maker.
8. Spread the batter so that it almost reaches the edges of the waffle maker.
9. Cook until the waffles are crisp and browned, 3-4 minutes (if using a waffle-stick maker, follow the manufacturer’s instructions).
10. Using a spatula, remove the waffles from the waffle maker.
11. Cut whole waffles into quarters, then slice into sticks about 1 inch wide.
12. Serve right away, or place the waffle sticks on a baking sheet in a single layer in a 200 degree oven for up to 20 minutes before serving.
13. Serve with hot tomato soup, for dipping.