Savory cream puffs with bacon and walnuts

Name: Savory cream puffs with bacon and walnuts
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Water ½ cup; Type 00 flour 0.67 cup; Butter 4 tbsp; Eggs 2; Fine salt ½ tsp; Grana Padano PDO cheese to grate 0.7 oz; Smoked pancetta diced 3.5 oz; Walnut kernels 10; Sesame seeds to taste

it de fr es br

364

Calories per serving

Energy Kcal 364
Carbohydrates g 16.5
of which sugars g 1
Protein g 12.6
Fats g 27.5
of which saturated fat g 11.29
Fiber g 0.9
Cholesterol mg 156
Sodium mg 663

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Serving: 4
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Marisa Malomo

Savory profiteroles are, honestly, a cool twist on choux pastry. Usually, we think of these as sweet French treats, right? But, here's the thing, these little bites take a savory choux pastry turn. Picture this: golden and puffy profiteroles, but they're not sweet at all. Each one is packed with a delicious pancetta and walnut filling. Super tasty for parties or chilling with friends. They offer something unexpected, for sure.

Profiteroles might scream classic French dessert, but this version? It’s got a rustic vibe. Instead of sweet cream, you get this crispy shell with a salty, nutty surprise. Really really good. Plus, the mix of flavors pops, especially with the tender pastry meeting crunchy walnuts and smoky pancetta. So good.

Bringing out gourmet finger foods that look fancy—yet are surprisingly easy—is a win at any party. Using savory profiteroles as appetizers? A total standout compared to the usual puff pastry stuff. It shows how flexible savory choux pastry can be. The combo of pancetta and walnuts is a balance of moist and crispy. I mean, pancetta adds this deep, tangy flavor that’s really special.

People often play around with the filling. Some swap in different cheeses or herbs, so each batch is a little unique. And these snacks? They're always the first to vanish at any get-together. Pretty much the first to go. If you are looking to shake up your party spread or just want to try something new, this savory profiterole recipe is a solid pick. It’s tasty, super simple, and has that wow factor that’s hard to beat when you're after something a bit more fun. Plus, it encourages creativity with ingredients, making every serving a potential surprise. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a newbie, these savory treats are bound to impress and delight your guests. No question.

INGREDIENTS

364

Calories per serving

Ingredients for the choux pastry: Water ½ cup (125 g); Type 00 flour 0.67 cup (80 g); Butter 4 tbsp (60 g); Eggs 2; Fine salt ½ tsp (3 g)

for filling and garnishing: Grana Padano PDO cheese 0.7 oz (20 g) - to grate; Smoked pancetta 3.5 oz (100 g) - diced; Walnut kernels 10; Sesame seeds to taste

Preparation

How to prepare Savory cream puffs with bacon and walnuts

To make the rustic cream puffs with bacon and walnuts, first prepare the choux pastry: pour the water into a saucepan 1 along with the butter 2 and salt 3 and bring to a boil.

Add the flour all at once 4 and stir vigorously with a whisk over low heat until the mixture comes together and detaches from the bottom of the saucepan 5. Transfer the mixture to a bowl 6 and let it cool.

Now add one egg at a time 7, mixing well with the whisk to incorporate it. Only when the egg is completely absorbed can you add the next one: in the end, the mixture should be smooth and consistent 8. Add the grated cheese 9.

Also add the diced bacon 10 and roughly chopped walnuts 11, reserving some for the final garnish, then mix again with the whisk to combine everything 12.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto it, spacing the mounds apart 13. Slightly flatten the top with the back of a spoon and garnish with the walnuts 14 and bacon you set aside 15.

Finally, add the sesame seeds 16 and bake in a preheated fan oven at 356°F for about 20 minutes 17. Once baked, the rustic cream puffs with bacon and walnuts should be puffed up and golden 18. Let them cool slightly and serve!

Storage

The rustic cream puffs with bacon and walnuts can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, making sure to reheat them in the oven before serving. Freezing is not recommended.