happy hour shortbread in southern france

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Imagining it’s happy hour: chilled white wine (or rosé wine) & smooth red wine are awaiting their destiny, gin tonics & vodka tonics are mixed or whatever else – in the very middle of all the drinks sits a plate w/ crispy crumbly cheesy spicy shortbread cookies …

We are still in Southern France enjoying happy hour at times … so I started to make some savoury shortbread to enjoy w/ the wine – instead of fresh baguette & salted butter & olives & some rillette de thon or rillette de saumon …

We’re only mixing flour, Parmesan, pepper & salt … & dried rosemary!

So far nothing changed compared to my earlier approach … however, I used grated Parmesan from the food store. (… & I couldn’t rely on an oven w/ fan: so it was about 175° C in a preheated oven for about 16-17 min.)

Now join me when I roll up my sleeves & get to work …

We only need 4 components:

  • flour
  • ice-cold butter
  • freshly grated Parmesan
  • spicy kick: salt & pepper & dried rosemary.

Just start w/ mixing all the dry ingredients including the Parmesan. (Well – of course: grate the Parmesan beforehand!)

Add the cubed butter & start kneading … Hurry up – it gets soft rather soon!

Form a ball of dough & stretch it into a clumsy log. Wrap in cling film & roll the log to get it even & round & smooth. My final log was about 25 cm long. Put it in the fridge: at least for 30 min in the fresh department (or longer in the rest of the fridge).

In the meantime line 2 baking trays w/ baking parchment. Then preheat the oven to 160° C fan.

As soon as the dough is hard enough cut it into slices of about 5 mm. It’s not evenly round anymore: live w/ it or roll the dough log again & again when cutting slices. Place the slices on the baking trays (4 x 5). I managed to get about 40 slices.

Bake them in oven for about 13-15 min. The shortbread should be slightly brown.

A rich flavor fills your kitchen & all of your house. The Parmesan is very intense.

The shortbread is soft & crispy at the same time. It’s very crumbly – handle w/ care! It’s also very rich – just the right nibble for a hefty happy hour to go w/ proper drinks.

Put them in an airtight container for storage.

Enjoy!

happy hour shortbread in Southern France
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Servings: 40 shortbread cookies
ingredients:
  • 125 g all-purpose flour
  • 75 g freshly grated Parmesan
  • 125 g ice-cold butter
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1/4 tsp finely ground white pepper
  • 1/4 tsp salt
how to:
  • Grate Parmesan.
  • Mix flour, grated Parmesan, dried rosemary, pepper & salt in a bowl.
  • Add butter cut into cubes.
  • Knead everything w/ your hands until you get a smooth sticky dough.
  • Form somewhat like a log, wrap in cling film & roll over the surface until round & even (length approximately 20-25 cm).
  • Store in the fridge (fresh department!) for about 30 min.
  • Preheat the oven to 160° C fan.
  • Line 2 baking trays w/ baking parchment.
  • Unwrap the dough & cut into slices of about 5 mm (max).
  • Arrange on the baking tray (4 x 5).
  • Bake in the oven for about 13-15 min.
  • Let the shortbread cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Notes
Prep Time: Cooling time for the dough is not included.
Cooling time: It’s about 30 min in the fresh department of about 0 degrees C; it’s about 1 h in the rest of the fridge. (Or you may use the freezer … for about 10 min – approximately.)
Parmesan: I used 24 month old Parmesan which I grated by myself (not so finely grated as you may buy in your trusted food store).
Spicyness: If you prefer the shortbread less spicy mix 150 g flour w/ 50 g Parmesan or use a type of Parmesan less aged (maybe only 12 months).
Butter: The butter should be ice-cold.
In an airtight container you may store the shortbread up to 1-2 weeks.

(information on equipment)

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keep it simple. be flexible. always.