Sunday, August 21, 2011

Wasabi Cheese Crackers

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Wow. It's been over a year since my last savoury recipe. I guess it's pretty obvious I have a raging sweet tooth! But all this healthier eating has left me craving all kinds of naughty snacks, not just cake and lollies, but cheesy and salty snacks too. I had this sudden urge to make cheese crackers, ones that were like goldfish crackers or dixie drumsticks. A little bit of google searching and I found the perfect recipe - it's super easy and you basically throw everything into a food processor. Then I decided to add a little twist by making it wasabi flavoured, because I love the tingly heat of wasabi flavoured snacks (wasabi peas OMG...).
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So these are my Wasabi Cheese Crackers. Aren't they so cute??? I am in love with how they look. They're so dinky, puffy and golden crisp and they taste awesomely light and cheesy. They're the perfect TV snack and it would be so great to serve a big bowl of these at a party. The only part I was disappointed with was the strength of the wasabi heat in the end product, it tasted super strong when I taste-tested the dough but after baking the heat was almost completely gone, except for the tiniest afterburn. We ended up eating them dipped in extra wasabi paste, which made them perfect! So I've adjusted the amount of wasabi in the recipe below, as well as adding that you can roll the crackers in extra wasabi powder after baking if you like your wasabi snacks super strong-flavoured like me.
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It would have been even better if I had some real wasabi root to add to the mixture, I was at least hoping to buy a block of the cheese I always get that has wasabi root added to it which has a great, distinct flavour of wasabi. Unfortunately it wasn't available at my supermarket anymore :( I ended up using a bright orange coloured Red Leicester cheese because I figured it would give the crackers some extra colour, and that worked really well.
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I'll definitely be making these again, either with heaps more wasabi or with some other flavours. Maybe some chilli and pepper ones, or ones with chicken salt or other types of cheeses. It's a great, simple recipe and they look great. A was gobbling them up by the handful and kept cursing me for making them when he's trying to be good with his diet, they are so addictive that it's really hard to stop at one or two!
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Wasabi Cheese Crackers
(based on this recipe from Home Cooking in Montana)
1 cup plain flour
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2-2 tbsp wasabi paste (can be substituted with wasabi powder or grated wasabi root if you can get it)
55g (4 tbsp) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
225g (8 ounces) grated cheddar cheese (I used half regular cheddar and half Red Leicester cheese, but a wasabi root flavoured cheese like Ashgrove Tasmanian Wild Wasabi is ideal for this recipe)
2-4 tbsp water (less if you're using wasabi paste, more if you're using the powder or not adding wasabi)
Optional: extra wasabi powder or paste

In a food processor, pulse the flour and salt, then add butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add grated cheese a little at a time until the mixture again resembles coarse meal. Mix together wasabi with 1-2 of the tbsp of water and then pulse in, one tablespoon at a time. You can adjust the amount of the wasabi to your liking, but remember the flavour will be significantly dulled in the baking process. You may need to add another tbsp of water after this, and pulse until the dough forms into a ball. It will probably take a minute or so.
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Remove, wrap in plastic (I split the dough into 4 separate portions to make it quicker to chill and easier to roll out later) and chill for 20 minutes or up to 24 hours. The longer the better, but mine worked fine after chilling for about an hour until the dough was nice and firm. Roll the dough out to 3mm (1/8th-inch) thickness between two pieces of baking paper. You don't want to roll them paper thin, neither do you want to roll them too thick. If they are too thin, they will not puff up as much. If they are too thick, they will not be as crispy. Using a knife, pizza cutter, or cookie cutter cut 1 inch shapes and transfer to a baking paper-line baking tray. I chilled the prepared trays in the fridge while rolling and cutting the rest of my dough. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crackers are golden brown. Watch them after the 10 minute mark. Because I was only using the bottom coils of my oven, I found it was best to flip them over after 10 minutes so they browned evenly on each side. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. If the wasabi flavour is not strong enough for you at this point then you can toss the crackers in extra wasabi powder or serve with extra wasabi paste to dip it into. Can be stored in an airtight container for several days.
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37 comments:

  1. Yum yum! These are so cute and I love wasabi - so addictive with each and every sinus-clearing rush :)

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  2. Wow these look incredible! I love wasabi but never knew you could get wasabi flavoured cheese (!!!) The recipe looks similar to one I make for cheese straws - I'd normally add paprika but love the idea of getting the heat from wasabi instead. Will definitely be baking up a batch very soon :-)

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  3. Looooove wasabi!! These are adorable crackers. The only problem is, I think I would sit there and just keep munching on them, would be hard to stop.

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  4. Steph they are so darn cute. I love the little stars. What a perfect snack to bring to work. I will definately be trying these...

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  5. Man oh man, I think I'd be able to smash a whole jar of them before my ass even hits the couch.

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  6. Love how they puffed up so well! And such a gorgeous golden, too.

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  7. They're so ridiculously cute! I love the tiny cookie cutter, where did you get it from?

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  8. Minh - It's one of those sets that comes in like 15 different sizes, got it at Essential Ingredient :)

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  9. que rico, se ven delicioso. Saludos.

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  10. Those crackers are really original and they seem to be a delish!

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  11. These are so cute!! I found your site through foodgawker, love it!

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  12. What an absolutely fabulous idea! So pretty. Your photos are always fab...

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  13. Ahh they're so freaking cute! I can imagine how awesome they would taste, and it seems like such a good recipe to experiment with!

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  14. Ahh I've been thinking of making a goldfish-y sort of cracker! These are adorable

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  15. Those are seriously the cutest crackers I have ever seen. They remind me of these oyster soup crackers I used to eat for snack in kindergarden!

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  16. I want these cuties for my ' watching korean drama ' snacks !!! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I will definitely make this puffy wasabi cheesy crackers. Have a nice day !

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  17. these sound so yummy. Do you deliver?

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  18. I have tasted a kind of wasabi crackers here in Hong Kong and they really taste good!! Your photographs are perfect!

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  19. Hey there,

    Luv ur adorable post of those delicious looking crackers! Just had a thought that horseradish white chedder would be a yummy new addition to your next batch as well!!

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  20. I will happily eat wasabi from the tube! I take pleasure in the pain :D can't wait to try these!

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  21. My dad is obsessed with wasabi! Just in time for fathers day :) totally making these to go with his chilli hamper

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  22. I love the colors in your pictures! And I believe I can gobble up the whole jar of those yummy looking crackers! Have you tried using seaweed powder? It goes pretty well too with cheese.

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  23. you had me at "gobbling them by then handful"..... wow.... they look so fun to eat! love anything bite-sized =)

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  24. Wow! You do love wasabi. This is quite interesting -- I can just imagine the fight of saltiness and a little hit from these cheese crackers. I'm not up for the spicy feeling and I'll go for it for my love of cheese!

    Thanks for posting -- the crackers look really cute!

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  25. These look so yummy, I was looking for lunch inspiration and you have given it to me! Thanks :)

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  26. Ahhh, so cute, and I bet so hard to stop eating because they're so easy to just pop in your mouth!

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  27. Helen (Grab Your Fork) - Hehe is it awfully good for the sinuses ;)

    thelittleloaf - Wasabi cheese is so so good! You have to try it

    sara (Belly Rumbles) - Same here! Oh trust me, it's impossible to stop!

    A cupcake or two - Hehe so glad you made them Kath!! xx

    K | Citrus and Candy - Oh yeah, they are so evil!

    leaf (the indolent cook) - Same here! They looks like such cute golden nuggets :)

    luisa - thanks?

    Valerie - They were delish! Thanks!

    Lindsey@Lindselicious - Thanks so much for stopping by!

    Becs@Lay the table - Thanks! xx

    Lisa - I'm definitely experimenting with it more!

    betty - Thanks!

    Hayley Daen - Love goldfish crackers! Thanks!

    foodie. - Aww thank you!

    Elin - Haha that sounds liek a perfect use for them ;) Hope you like!

    Reemski - Haha I would for you Reem!!

    purabi naha - THanks!

    Anonymous - that sounds nice, wish i could have gotten the wasabi cheese for it

    KayB - Haha hardcore! Hope you try it!

    Nic@diningwithastud - Ooh chilli hamper sound awesome!

    Arudhi - Thanks! Seaweed powder sounds awesome!

    Winston - Haha! Same here :)

    chocolatesuze - :D <3

    Caylee - Haha thanks!

    Paige Matthews - Yes, I do.

    Cassandra @foodmyfriend - Glad to help! :)

    mademoiselle délicieuse - They are so addictive!

    Sneh | Cook Republic - Thank you!

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  28. Yummy!! I just made these and they were quick and simple. I will add more wasabi next time, I think it mellows as the dough sits.

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  29. Aija - Glad you liked them! Yes I mentioned that many times in the post and recipe .

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  30. Hi Steph, firstly I would like to tell u I love your blog!!! Especially all ur yummy looking pictures! Next, I would like to try this cute recipe but I don't have a food processor but only a stand mixer. Can I use the mixer instead and if yes should I use the whisk or paddle? Thanks!

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  31. Xelia- it's definitely worth a try! Probably with a paddle attachment and I would grate the cheese much finer so it's easier to incorporate. Good luck!

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  32. Just made them, and they taste great!!! Added a whole lot more wasabi though :))

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  33. These look absolutely amazing! I can't wait to give it a go. I love wasabi and cheese crackers so this would be a match made in heaven! Thank you for sharing!

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