Cheese straws are a traditional food of England and the Southern United States. They are eaten as an appetizer or snack. They are made as cut strips, or by using a cookie press, from dough made with butter, flour, salt, cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper. Variations use different types of cheese, spices and nuts. No one knows the exact origin of the cheese straw, but they are credited as a Southern invention. As the likely tale goes, a frugal cook mixed leftover biscuit dough with some cheese, forming it into long narrow strips that were baked along with the biscuits—but were enjoyed as a snack instead of at meals.
INSTRUCTION
Sift the flour, salt and curry powder into a bowl. Add the butter and rub in until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the cheese and half the egg and mix to form a dough. Wrap in clingfilm and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 200’C / 400’F / Gas Mark 6, then grease the several baking trays. On a floured work surface, roll out the dough to 5 mm / 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 7.5 x 1-cm / 3 x 1/2-inch strips. Pinch the strips lightly along the sides and place on the prepared baking trays.
Brush the strips with the remaining egg and sprinkle half with poppy seeds and half with cumin seeds. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 – 15 minutes, or until golden. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
INGREDIENTS
- 115 g / 4 oz Plain flour, plus extra for dusting
- Pinch of salt
- 55 g / 2 oz Butter, plus extra for greasing
- 55 g / 2 oz Grated Cheddar cheese
- 1 Egg, beaten
- Poppy and cumin seeds, for sprinkling.
Making & Baking 