Savoury British Biscuits Food

SAVOURY BRITISH BISCUITS

Steps:

• Ingredient weights are DRY weights, not fluid ounces.
• Place flour and mustard in a bowl.
• Add butter and rub in until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Stir in cheeses, and then add the peanut butter and egg and mix well.
• Roll out on a floured work surface to ¼ inch thick, cut out with a 2 inch biscuit cutter or into assorted shapes.
• Place on ungreased baking sheets and bake at 200ºC/ 400ºF/ Gas Mark 6 for 10-15 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack.
• Serve warm or cold.
• Store in an airtight container or cookie tin at room temperature.

CHEESE & ROSEMARY BISCUITS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Put the flours in a bowl and rub in the butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the cheese and rosemary, then add the yolk and mix in using a fork. When the mix starts to clump together, use your hands to knead to a smooth dough.
• Take walnut-sized pieces of dough, roll into balls and place on one or two lined baking trays. Flatten slightly with a fork, then bake for 12-14 mins. Alternatively, roll out between sheets of baking parchment and cut into shapes, then bake as before. Cool on the baking sheet for a few mins before moving to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

SAVOURY BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Put the flour, baking powder, sugar, 1 tsp salt and a grinding of black pepper in a large bowl, then mix well. Stir in the eggs until the mixture forms clumps, then bring together with your hands into a dough. It will seem dry at first, but keep kneading until no floury patches remain. Add the olives, thyme and parmesan, kneading until they are well distributed.
• Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into four pieces. With lightly floured hands, roll each into a sausage about 30cm long. Place two on each tray, well spaced apart. Put in the oven for 25-30 mins until the dough has risen and spread (it should still be pale). Remove, then cool on a wire rack for a few mins and turn down the oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1.
• Cut into slices about 1cm thick on a sharp diagonal, then lay the slices flat on the baking sheets. Bake for 20 mins more, turn over, then bake for another 20 mins until dry and lightly golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Will keep in an airtight tin for up to one month.

SEA SALT WATER BISCUITS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Place the flour, baking powder, butter and ½ tsp of the flaky salt in a food processor, then whizz for a minute until the butter is completely mixed with the flour. Add 4 tbsp water and pulse until the dough comes together. If it still feels dry, add 1 tsp more water and process until you have a soft but not sticky dough.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle approximately 50 x 25cm and as thin as possible. Brush a little water over the surface of the dough, scatter 1 tsp salt flakes over and press in lightly. Prick the dough all over with a fork, then cut into 18 squares. Place on the prepared trays - don't worry if they stretch a bit. Bake for 10-15 mins until the biscuits feel dry and sandy but are still pale - they may still feel soft but will harden up when cooling. Transfer to a wire rack and leave until completely cool. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.