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Parmesan and spring onion puffs

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Moderately easy

Recipe by: Norma MacMillan

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 to make these puffs! Just measure, mix and bake. A few spoonfuls of Parmesan adds a big boost of flavour, so no one will ever guess you've cut back on the fat.

Ready in 40 mins

Saved by 41 cook(s)

Ingredients

Serves: 12

140g plain flour
3 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
pepper to taste
2 medium eggs
1 egg white
225ml semi-skimmed milk
15g butter, melted
2 spring onions, finely chopped

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Preparation method

Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 25 mins

Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F, gas mark 7). Lightly coat a 12-hole bun tin or muffin tray with cooking spray or a teaspoon of olive oil and put into the oven to heat. Mix together the flour, Parmesan and pepper in a medium bowl. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture.

Whisk the eggs, egg white, milk and butter in another bowl until frothy. Pour into the well in the flour mixture and stir just until smooth. Stir in the spring onions.

When a drop of water dances and sizzles in the tin, it's hot enough. Spoon in the batter, dividing it evenly among the holes. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 180°C (350°F, gas mark 4) and bake for a further 10 minutes or until golden and puffed up. Immediately remove from the tin and quickly make a small slit in the side of each puff to release the steam. Serve hot.

Parmesan cheese

Parmesan cheese is not truly vegetarian, as it contains animal rennet. To make this dish 100% vegetarian, omit the cheese or find a suitable vegetarian substitute made without animal rennet. In supermarkets look for the 'parmesan style hard cheeses' which are suitable for vegetarians.

Some more ideas

*Replace the Parmesan with another grating cheese such as pecorino.
*Add a few dried herbs such as dried thyme or oregano to the batter.

Health points

*By using a strong cheese in small amounts, you can have lots of flavour while keeping the fat and sodium content to a minimum.
*Spring onions, like other members of the onion family, contain allium compounds that may help relieve high blood pressure.

Last updated: 08 Apr 2011