What savory fillings can I put in choux (puff) pastry?
January 14, 2012 7:23 AM   Subscribe

What savory fillings can I put in choux pastry?

I know about chicken salad, but these will be smaller croquembouche-sized pastry for one-bite appetizers, and chicken salad seems too big and chunky for something so small. I'd love something warm, but I'll take any ideas you've got!
posted by dogmom to Food & Drink (13 answers total) 15 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: Is your choux going to be plain or cheesey? You can do a little goat cheese or a goat cheese-based spread with herbs/minced veg. You can do anything, really!
posted by pupstocks at 7:25 AM on January 14, 2012


Let me also ask... what else is being served at the meal?
posted by pupstocks at 7:25 AM on January 14, 2012


Best answer: Sautéed mushrooms. Pecorino Romano chipped on top. Yum.
posted by heyho at 7:33 AM on January 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: I was just going to make plain choux (I only learned how to make it at all last week), and this particular serving will be for an "appetizers for dinner" thing that we do where we just eat finger foods for dinner. It's like a potluck, but no main dishes, so I don't need to "match" anything.
posted by dogmom at 7:34 AM on January 14, 2012


Best answer: Oh, just throw some Gruyere cheese in the dough before you pipe it and make teeny cheesy rolls. They don't need a thing inside.
posted by xingcat at 7:36 AM on January 14, 2012


Best answer: Tuna salad, curried chicken salad, any non-pasta deli salad would do. Caramelized onions and mushrooms. You have endless possibilities!
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 7:49 AM on January 14, 2012


Best answer: If they're really small, then spinach dip would be delicious inside, as well. (Sorry to jump back in, but this has me hungry for little choux pastries.

And in looking, I discovered bacon gougeres! Cheese and bacon and puffy pastry? I can't imagine much better!
posted by xingcat at 7:50 AM on January 14, 2012


Best answer: Try googling "vol-au-vents filling" for additional ideas.
posted by leigh1 at 7:54 AM on January 14, 2012


Best answer: I'd saute something like minced dark mushrooms (shitake maybe), alcohol (amber ale, or white wine, or burbon), shallots, butter, and fresh herbs (oregano? parsley?). Sea salt; coarse pepper. Slit or slice the pastry, add a small dab (or pipe it in).

Even if you do put a thing inside it, it doesn't have to be a big deal to be delicious.
posted by Netzapper at 8:30 AM on January 14, 2012


Best answer: Personally, I think cheese appetizers are too filling. Why not pipe in something a bit lighter, like a salmon mousse or a vegetable puree? Or sour cream and caviar (or fake caviar for vegetarians?) I think the crunch of the little choux container is the main point of these, coupled with a luxurious filling.
posted by Ideefixe at 10:08 AM on January 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Not exotic by any means but some sharp cheddar/vidalia onions and yellow potatoes make a great filling-lots of butter/salt n pepper and cream makes it even more enjoyable.
posted by plumberonkarst at 10:15 AM on January 14, 2012


Best answer: I've done kneecaps with ham and shallots sautéed then with Swiss cheese and cream stirred in, maybe a wee thyme too. It was a delicious answer for a "oh crap, what can I make for supper with scant provisions and no time" night.
posted by mimi at 10:21 AM on January 14, 2012


Response by poster: I just went ahead and marked them all because I even though I didn't use all of your ideas, I know I will! I did do ham & swiss, mushrooms & onions, and shrimp & cream cheese (all with various seasonings, of course).
posted by dogmom at 7:05 PM on January 14, 2012


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