Ham Gougere Recipe

Ingredients : Serves 4

15 ml/1 tbsp oil
1 onion, chopped
100 g/4 oz mushrooms, chopped
175 g/6 oz/1.5 cups honey roast ham, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

75 g/3 oz butter or margarine

200 ml/7 fl oz/scant 1 cup water

100 g/4 oz/1 cup plain (all-purpose) flour
3 eggs, beaten
50 g/2 oz/1 cup fresh breadcrumbs

100 g/4 oz/1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated

Method :

Heat the oil and fry (saute) the onion and mushrooms until softened but not browned. Add the ham and season to taste with salt and pepper. Put to one side. Heat the butter or margarine and water in a saucepan, bring to the boil, then tip in the flour all at once and beat until the mixture comes away cleanly from the sides of the pan. Leave to cool slightly, then gradually beat in the eggs, a little at a time, to make a choux pastry (paste). Spread half the pastry on the base of a greased 20 cm/8 in pie dish and pile the rest round the edge. Spoon the ham mixture into the centre and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and cheese. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 for 30 minutes until well risen and golden brown.