Valentine's Day Gruyère And Crab Gougerès Recipe

Gather the Valentine's Day Gruyère and crab gougerès ingredients

To prepare the gougères, gather unsalted butter, kosher salt, all-purpose flour, large eggs, grated Gruyère cheese, freshly ground black pepper, and smoked paprika. For the filling, you'll need fresh crab meat, sour cream, high-quality prepared mayonnaise, pickled sweet red cherry peppers, fresh fennel bulb, chives, lemon juice, and a splash or more of Tabasco sauce to suit your taste.

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Set the oven temperature to 425°F.

Step 2: Add water, butter, and salt to saucepan

In a medium saucepan, combine water, butter, and salt, and heat over medium-high until boiling.

Step 3: Add flour to the saucepan

Incorporate the flour and lower the heat to medium.

Step 4: Cook and stir until a dough forms

Cook and stir the mixture until it becomes a smooth dough that pulls away from the edges of the pan, which should take approximately 2 minutes.

Step 5: Cool the dough in large bowl

Move the dough to a heat-resistant bowl and let it cool for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time.

Step 6: Add the eggs

Utilize a hand mixer or a wooden spoon to thoroughly blend the dough, adding the eggs individually. Ensure that each egg is fully mixed into the dough before introducing the next one.

Step 7: Add cheese, pepper, and smoked paprika to the dough

Incorporate all except for 2 tablespoons of the cheese, along with the black pepper and smoked paprika, into the dough and mix well.

Step 8: Prepare the baking sheets

Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.

Step 9: Transfer the dough to a pastry bag

Place the dough into a pastry bag equipped with a ½-inch round tip.

Step 10: Pipe the gougerè dough

Squeeze the dough into even mounds, arranging 4 rows of 5 on each baking sheet.

Step 11: Place cheese on top of the gougerès

Sprinkle some bits of the leftover cheese over each mound.

Step 12: Bake the gougerès for 15 minutes

Place the first tray on the middle rack and bake for 15 minutes.

Step 13: Reduce the heat to 375 F

Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes. Avoid opening the oven during this period.

Step 14: Remove the gougerès from the oven

Take the gougères out of the oven and promptly poke each one on the side with a toothpick to let the steam escape.

Step 15: Repeat with the remaining pan

Continue the procedure with the other pan.

Step 16: Cool the gougerès

Allow the gougères to cool completely.

Step 17: Mix the crab filling

As the gougères bake, mix together the crab meat, sour cream, mayonnaise, cherry peppers, fennel, chives, lemon juice, and Tabasco in a medium bowl.

Step 18: Slice the gougerès

Utilize a small serrated knife to cut the gougères nearly in half horizontally, ensuring that a portion of the edge remains uncut to keep the top attached like a lid.

Step 19: Fill the gougerès

Utilize a small scoop or spoon to fill each gougère with approximately 2 teaspoons of crab filling, then replace the top.

Step 20: Serve the gougerès

Serve the Gruyère and crab gougères right away, or chill them in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.

How should you serve Valentine's Day Gruyère and crab gougerès?

These Gruyère and crab gougères are incredibly satisfying on their own, making them perfect appetizers for a cozy gathering without needing many accompaniments. Kinnaird recommends pairing them with a dry French rosé or sparkling Brut, along with a selection of mixed marinated olives, cocktail nuts, and a platter of crudités. For the best experience, serve the gougères immediately after filling to keep the pastry crisp, although they can also be prepared in advance and enjoyed straight from the refrigerator.

This recipe yields a generous batch, so if it’s just you and your Valentine, consider only filling enough gougères for the two of you to enjoy in one sitting. You can save the unfilled pastries for later and experiment with different fillings. Leftover gougères make a delightful light lunch when paired with a green salad or a bowl of soup.

These gougères also travel well once assembled, making them an excellent choice for hors d'oeuvres at a dinner party or as part of an appetizer spread at a holiday gathering. Simply pack the filled gougères in a single layer in airtight containers, and then arrange them on a platter or plate when you arrive at your destination.

How can you make Valentine's Day Gruyère and crab gougerès in advance?

The charm of this Valentine's Day Gruyère and crab gougères recipe lies in the fact that most of the prep work can be completed well ahead of time. The gougère puffs can be baked, cooled, and stored in airtight containers in the freezer for up to two months. When you're ready to serve, simply take out the desired amount from the freezer, thaw them, and reheat in a 350°F oven for 7 minutes to restore their crispiness. After that, slice and fill them according to the recipe.

If you prefer not to plan too far ahead or wish to avoid freezing, you can bake the gougère puffs a day in advance, keep them in airtight containers at room temperature, and re-crisp them in the oven as mentioned above.

The crab filling can be prepared several hours or even a day ahead. While it's best to fill the puffs right before serving, you can also do so up to two hours in advance. However, if you wait longer than that, they may become soggy. If you can't serve them immediately, store them in the refrigerator to keep the crab filling fresh.