Thursday 27 May 2010

Asparagus & cheese muffins






Inspired by "Dales Life" magazine, May-July issue.

Makes 12 muffins
(I have made 6 muffins and 4 mini bread loafs)

12 spears of asparagus, wooden ends removed, each spear cut into 3 pieces
400g self raising flour
200g mature Cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes (Gruyere or feta cheese should be fine too)
125g butter, melted
Small bunch of fresh chives, snipped into pieces
150ml milk
100ml plain yoghurt
1 tsp Dijon mustard (or English one)
2 eggs
salt
freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 200C.

Blanch the asparagus in the boiling water for a minute, then drain and leave it under running cold water for a minute or two. Drain again and dry thoroughly.

In one bowl mix the flour, cheese cubes and asparagus, saving some tips for later.

In another mix the wet ingredients: butter, eggs, milk, yoghurt, chives, mustard with some salt and pepper.

Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones and stir. Be careful not to over mix, stop when the all flour is gone – it means the mixture is combined.

Spoon the mixture evenly into a muffin form and push asparagus tip into a middle of each muffin.

Bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes. Best eaten warm with some butter, but they also taste great cold, possibly with some smooth soup.

7 comments:

  1. I love this recipe! So unusual and you can't go wrong with cheese in a muffin. Must be the first time I've ever seen asparagus in a muffin too!

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  2. Your photos are sooo beautiful! It really adds something to the blog. I'm very impressed.

    Im also more than slightly envious, I've been wanting to do savoury muffns for ages and haven't got round to it.

    You have inspired me to give it a go though!

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  3. First of all - thank you both for viisiting my blog and leaving comments. :)

    Barbara, it was firts time I have seen asparagus in a muffin, although I have seen it before in a bread loaf, so I never thought I could go wrong. And it didn't! :)

    Lou, I'm glad you like my pictures. I have been practicing for 2 years on internet discussing group before I started my own blog. I wish I could have more sun light, but obviously it is difficult in North Yorks. ;)

    I love savoury muffins and we are going for a picnic somewhere seaside on Moday, so I hope to bake some more.

    Have a nice weekend! :)

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  4. these sound absolutely incredible....wow..I am so stuck with fruit in muffins I never think about adding other items....thanks for he inspiration!

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  5. Dennis, thak you for leaving a comment - I have visited your blog and I will keep looking because I like it. :) Appreciated!

    I love savoury muffins even more than sweet ones. Tonight I have made a new lot of savoury ones - feta & sundried tomatoes muffins. :) We are going for a picnic tommorow, these should be a nice snack. I will show them sometime next week.

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  6. I like the fact that there's a lot of asparagus recipes in May. Seasonal cooking!

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  7. Mike, seasonal cooking is cool: cheap, healthy, environmental friendly. People use to eat accordingly to seasons and I think we should definately do the same.

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