I searched for a gluten-free recipe for cheese straws reminiscent of the ones from my childhood, which are no longer available, and the maker is unknown to me.
The key was the distinctive taste I remembered. I discovered a recipe on food.com that nearly matched, and with a few tweaks and converting them into crackers instead of straws, I achieved a similar flavor. Although the texture isn't as light as the original cheese straws, the taste is quite similar.
Ideas, Advice and Suggestions
Cheddar cheese, grated – You can use any grateable cheese you prefer. I've tried various cheeses and combinations, from cheddar and mature cheddar to gruyere. While mozzarella can be grated, it's quite soft and doesn't add much flavor, so it's best used to increase the quantity of cheese if you're running low. Cream and cottage cheeses are not recommended.
Butter – I enjoy the flavor of butter, but you could use cooking margarine as a substitute.
Corn-starch – Maizena in South Africa.
Potato starch – Ensure you use potato starch not potato flour.
Dry mustard – I consider Coleman's the best, but any dry mustard should suffice. It's absolutely essential for achieving the authentic taste of cheese straws.
Red pepper - Cayenne pepper – Freshly ground pepper offers more zest than one that has been sitting for a while. However, cayenne pepper is quite potent, so it's advisable to adjust the amount to your taste cautiously, especially on your first try. It's also a significant contributor to the overall flavor.
Xanthan gum – I'm usually not keen on Xanthan gum but it makes these crackers hold together well
Cream – Cream that has soured slightly can still be used, and cream cheese can serve as a substitute, which has proven to be effective.
Zeal – MSG –Optional but recommended, this ingredient is polarizing; however, it truly adds something unique to the crackers.
GLUTEN-FREE CHEESE STRAWS OR CRACKERS
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Total Time: 17 mins
Servings: 4
Level of Difficulty: Easy
The Origin of the Recipe: food.com
Delicious and crispy gluten-free cheese straws or crackers, perfect for a snack or party treat!
Ingredients
- 120g cheddar cheese, grated
- ¼ cup (57g)butter, softened
- ½ cup (60g) corn-starch
- ⅓ cup (60g) potato starch
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon ground red pepper
- ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum (a little less than 1ml)
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) cream
- Zeal - MSG to sprinkle
Directions
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
- In a medium bowl, combine and mix well, butter, corn-starch, potato starch, ground red pepper, xanthan gum, mustard, and salt. Mixture will be crumbly.
- Add cream and beat until smooth.
- Add cheese and mix until dough is almost uniform in colour.
- Roll out or pat the dough to ½ cm thickness (un-floured surface).
- If the dough is too sticky to work with, refrigerate it for a few minutes or so.
- Cut into thin straws and place on a greased baking sheet. Or cut with a 2cm square biscuit cutter.
- Sprinkle with Zeal (MSG).
- Bake about 12 minutes.