Savory Shortbread
During the harsh New England winter of 2010, my husband Jefferson and I decided to play with the idea of a Savory Shortbread to pair with cheese and wine. Utilizing my husband's 15 plus years experience as a chef, we experimented with various flavors we felt would reflect on my European heritage. After trial and error, taste test after taste test, and test marketing with our wonderfully loyal customers at our local farmers market, Klara's Savory Shortbread was born. Check out the bottom of this page for some yummy serving suggestions.
Enjoy!
This flavor was inspired by the fact that my father's grandfather was a village butcher. We as Czechs are very much a pork culture and lets face it...who doesn't love bacon! To my Great Grandmothers shortbread we add crisp bacon, fresh rosemary, a little salt, a little liquid smoke and a little cayenne pepper. The result is a fantastic shortbread that pairs wonderfully with blue cheese as an appetizer or as a condiment with soup. Check out the recipes at the bottom of the page.
We Love Garlic! We created this flavor specifically to participate in the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival in 2011. It proved to be a huge hit at the festival, so we decided to add it to our Savory Shortbread line. To my Great Grandmothers shortbread we add crisp roasted garlic, fresh rosemary, thyme, sage and parsley, a little salt, and a little cayenne pepper. The result is a fantastic shortbread that pairs wonderfully with tomato and fresh mozzarella and makes a funky crouton for salad. Check out the recipes at the bottom of the page.
This flavor was inspired by my mothers goulash. Several years ago when I first took my husband to meet my parents in the Czech Republic, my mother made her goulash for my soon to be husband. He loved it. He decided to mimic the flavors in one of our Savory Shortbread. To my Great Grandmothers shortbread we add sweet paprika, caraway seeds, onion powder, garlic powder and salt.. The result is a fantastic shortbread that pairs wonderfully with goat or fresh cows milk cheeses. Fun recipes at the bottom of the page.
Bacon Rosemary
Serving Suggestions
- Fig & Blue Cheese App
- Corn Chowder
Fig and Blue Cheese Appetizer
Wine Suggestion - Beaujolais
yields 4 - 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 3 oz cream cheese (from 8-oz package), softened
- 2/3 cup crumbled blue cheese (3 oz)
- 1/4 cup Orange Marmalade
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 16 dried Mission figs, coarsely chopped (1 cup)
- 1 bag (12 oz) Klara's Bacon Rosemary Savory Shortbread
- 1/2 cup Chopped Pecans
DIRECTIONS
- Heat oven to 325°F. In small bowl, mix cream cheese and blue cheese with fork until well blended; set aside.
- In 1-quart saucepan, stir marmalade and vinegar over low heat until mixed; stir in figs. Cook over low heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until figs are softened. Remove from heat.
- Place Klara's Bacon Rosemary Savory Shortbread on ungreased cookie sheet with the "bottom" flat side of the shortbread facing up
- Gently place 1 teaspoon cheese mixture onto each Shortbread. Top cheese with about 1 tablespoon fig mixture and 1/2 teaspoon pecans.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melting. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack; cool 5 - 10 minutes. Serve warm.
Corn Chowder
Wine Suggestion - Chardonnay
yields 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 6 cups canned vegetable stock or substitiute your own homemade stocks (chicken stock is OK too)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
- 6 ears corn
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1- 8oz Bag Klara's Savory Bacon Rosemary Shortbread
DIRECTIONS
Heat the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme and cook until the vegetables are good and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Dust the vegetables with flour and stir to coat everything well. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Add the cream and the potatoes, bring to a boil and boil hard for about 7 minutes, until the potatoes break down (this will help to thicken the soup and give it a good texture).
Cut the corn kernels off the cob and add to the soup. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until the corn is soft, about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the parsley and give it another little drink of olive oil. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve. Garnish with 2 Bacon Rosemary Savory Shortbread.
Enjoy!
Roasted Garlic Herb
Serving Suggestions
- Tomato/Mozzarella App
- Caesar Salad
Tomato Mozzarella Appetizers
Wine Suggestion - Pinot Grigio
yields 3 - 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 4 plum tomatoes, finely chopped
- 1/2 (small) red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon capers
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 pound fresh mozzarella, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons balsamic or red wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 1 bag - 8oz - Klara's Roasted Garlic Herb Savory Shortbread
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl combine tomatoes, onion, capers, basil and mozzarella. Stir in balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Top Savory Shortbread with the mixture.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Caesar Salad
Wine Suggestion - Sangiovese
yields 4 - 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
Dressing:
- 1 clove garlic, smashed with a pinch of salt and a little olive oil
- 4 anchovy fillets
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for garnish
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 heads romaine lettuce
- 1 bag - 8oz Klara's Roasted Garlic Herb Savory Shortbread
DIRECTIONS
Make the dressing: Smear the garlic paste over the inside of the salad bowl. Put the anchovies, egg yolks, mustard, lemon juice, and water into a blender and process for 30 seconds until the mixture is smooth. With the blender running, pour the olive oil in slowly for the dressing to emulsify. Stir in the Parmesan, a pinch of salt and a couple of grinds of black pepper; set aside. (Refrigerate the dressing if you will not be using it right away.)
Assemble the salad: Tear the lettuce into a large bowl. Add enough dressing to coat the salad to your liking. Add some extra Parmesan and toss the salad well. Garnish each salad with 2 Savory Shortbread. Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
* Raw Eggs
*RAW EGG WARNING
Klara's Gourmet Cookies suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs due to the slight risk of salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly refrigerated, clean grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.
Paprika Caraway
Serving Suggestions
- Herb Goat Cheese App
- Smoked Salmon App
Herbed Goat Cheese Spread
Wine Suggestion - Sauvignon Blanc
yields 6 - 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 4 ounces soft goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream, approximately
- 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme
- 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 bag - 8oz Klara's Paprika Caraway Savory Shortbread
DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, cream the goat cheese with the back of a kitchen spoon. Add the cream, rosemary, thyme, parsley, chives, and pepper and mix until smooth and creamy. Add more cream if the cheese is particularly thick. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Serve room temperature spread with Klara's Savory Shortbread.
Enjoy!
Smoked Salmon Appetizers
Wine Suggestion - Sparkling Wine or Champagne (Brut)
yield 6 - 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
- 1 bag - 8oz - Klara's Paprika Caraway Savory Shortbread
- 1/2 pound smoked salmon, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup creme fraiche or sour cream
- Fresh dill sprig, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
To serve, top the Savory Shortbread with a piece of smoked salmon. Add a dollop of creme fraiche and a sprig of dill.
Serve Immediately.
Enjoy!
