WHAT better way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, than with a mouthwatering recipe.
Pilgrim’s Choice have created a festive cheddar, vegetable and chestnut plait.
Ingredients for the pastry: 400g plain flour, pinch of salt, 200g chilled butter
100g Pilgrims Choice Extra Mature Cheddar cheese, chilled water, 1 egg.
For the filling: 350g butternut squash, 1 courgette, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 onion
100g mushrooms, 300g roasted red peppers, 100g pre-packed chestnuts, 75g Pilgrims Choice Extra Mature Cheddar cheese, 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme, 1 egg, 1-2 tsp sesame seeds.
To make the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl and add the butter. Rub in using your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Stir in the grated cheese, then add 7-8 tablespoons of chilled water and stir the mixture with a round-bladed knife so that it comes together to form a soft (but not sticky) dough
Knead lightly for a few moments until smooth, then wrap and chill for 10-15 minutes
Cut the butternut squash into small chunks and then simmer in lightly salted boiling water until tender-about 10 minutes
Add the courgette once chopped to the saucepan for the final 2-3 minutes of cooking time and drain well.
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and gently fry the onion and thinly sliced mushrooms until very soft, then remove and set aside to cool
Drain and tear the peppers into pieces and mix in together with the squash, courgettes and chestnuts. Season to taste
Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle and trim the edges neatly to a square measuring 30 x 30cm (12 x12 inches)
Spread the mushroom mixture down the centre third of the pastry and pile the vegetable mixture on top, then sprinkle with the grated cheese and herbs
Slash the pastry on each side of the mixture at 2cm (¾ inch) intervals, brush with beaten egg, then fold the strips over the filling to overlap like a plait
Lift the plait onto a lightly greased baking sheet and brush with beaten egg and then sprinkle with sesame seeds
Transfer to the centre of the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown
Serve hot or cold
Enjoy and have yourself a very merry Cheesemas!
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