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Gruyère, parsnip and thyme beignets

Australian Gourmet Traveller French appetiser recipe for Gruyère, parsnip and thyme beignets.

By Emma Knowles
  • 20 mins preparation
  • 1 hr 10 mins cooking plus cooling
  • Serves 6
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Gruyère, parsnip and thyme beignets
These bite-sized morsels are a perfect pre-dinner nibble. The great thing about this recipe is that you can make the mixture up to a day in advance, and cook the beignets just before serving.

Ingredients

  • 90 gm butter, coarsely chopped
  • 1 tbsp thyme leaves, plus extra to serve
  • 400 gm parsnips (about 2 large), cored and coarsely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 200 ml milk
  • 80 gm plain flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 120 gm coarsely grated Gruyère
  • For deep-frying: vegetable oil

Method

Main
  • 1
    Preheat oven to 200C. Melt one-third of the butter and half the thyme in a small saucepan. Scatter parsnip and garlic in a single layer on a baking-paper-lined oven tray, drizzle with butter mixture, season to taste and roast until caramelised and very tender (35-40 minutes). Process in a food processor until very smooth and set aside.
  • 2
    Combine milk, remaining butter and a pinch of salt in a saucepan and bring slowly to the boil over low heat. Whisk in flour, whisking continuously until mixture thickens and pulls away from sides of pan (1-2 minutes). Cool slightly, then add eggs one at a time, beating well to combine. Cool completely then fold in parsnip mixture, cheese and remaining thyme.
  • 3
    Preheat vegetable oil in a deep-sided saucepan or deep-fryer to 170C. Deep-fry quenelles of mixture in batches until golden and cooked through (4-5 minutes), drain on absorbent paper and serve immediately scattered with sea salt and extra thyme.

Notes

Drink Suggestion: Dry apéritif white such as Muscadet. Drink suggestion by Max Allen

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  • undefined: Emma Knowles