Chorizo Puffs

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

cup finely diced chorizo sausage, casing removed (125 mL)

cup small-diced manchego cheese (175 mL)

cup green onions, white and green parts, thinly slice

1 cup water (250 mL)

pound unsalted butter, cut into small cubes (125 g)

teaspoon fine salt (1 mL)

1 cup flour, plus flour for dusting (250 mL)

4 eggs

Vegetable oil, for frying

4 teaspoons Spice Mixture, recipe follows (20 mL)

Spice Mixture

cup kosher salt (125 mL)

cup ground coriander (60 mL)

2 tablespoons ground cumin (30 mL)

2 tablespoons Spanish sweet paprika (30 mL

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (10 mL)

Preparation

Heat a small saute pan over low heat and lightly cook the chorizo. Remove from the pan and let cool. Combine the chorizo, cheese, and green onion and set aside.

Put the water, butter, and salt in a heavy 4-quart (4-litre) saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, to melt the butter. Remove from the heat and add the flour all at once. Stir with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together to form a ball. Return the pan to medium-high heat and beat constantly until a film develops on the bottom of the pan, about 2 minutes. Do not let it burn.

Transfer the dough to an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue to beat the dough for about 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir the chorizo mixture into the dough until evenly distributed. Transfer to a pastry bag. On a lightly floured work surface, pipe into 1-foot long (30-cm) ropes and cut into 1 1/2-inch (4-cm) pieces. Lightly dust with flour.

Pour 2 cups (500 mL) of vegetable oil into a wok and heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Using a metal spoon, drop the dough pieces into the hot oil. Fry the chorizo puffs for 2 1/2 minutes on each side or until golden. Take care not to overcrowd the oil. Place on absorbent paper and season immediately with 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of the Spice Mixture. Repeat until all dough has been used.

Serve warm.

Spice Mixture:Stir all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.