Description
Savory leek and cheese biscuits bring rustic French countryside comfort to your kitchen. Flaky layers of sharp cheddar and tender leeks create a mouthwatering side dish you’ll crave with every meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (or Gruyere), shredded
- 1 cup leeks, thinly sliced
Dairy and Fat Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cold and cubed
- 3/4 cup milk or buttermilk
Seasoning and Leavening Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Prepare the leeks by finely slicing them into delicate half-moons, ensuring uniform thickness for even cooking.
- Heat a skillet with butter, gradually sautéing the leeks over medium temperature until they transform into a soft, translucent, and aromatic mixture.
- Allow the sautéed leeks to cool completely, which helps prevent moisture from compromising the biscuit’s texture.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a light and airy foundation for the biscuits.
- Incorporate cold butter into the flour mixture, using fingertips or a pastry cutter to produce a crumbly, pebble-like consistency.
- Gently fold the cooled leeks and grated cheese into the flour mixture, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
- Pour in cold buttermilk, stirring minimally to maintain a tender biscuit structure.
- Transfer the delicate dough onto a lightly floured surface, patting it into a cohesive rectangle approximately 1-inch thick.
- Utilize a sharp biscuit cutter to create precise rounds, pressing straight down without twisting to ensure optimal rise.
- Arrange the cut biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet, positioning them slightly touching to encourage upward growth.
- Brush the biscuit tops with an egg wash to achieve a golden, lustrous finish.
- Bake in a preheated oven until the biscuits reach a rich, golden-brown color and emit an irresistible aroma.
- Rest the baked biscuits briefly before serving, allowing them to set and develop maximum flavor complexity.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by caramelizing leeks slowly, allowing natural sweetness to develop and create deeper taste profile.
- Consider using aged cheddar or gruyère for more complex, sharper cheese notes that complement the mild leek flavor.
- Swap butter with olive oil for a lighter version, or use gluten-free flour to make these biscuits suitable for dietary restrictions.
- Freeze unbaked biscuits for quick future breakfast or brunch options, placing them directly in the oven from frozen state with slightly extended baking time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg