Gougère
A gougère (pronounced [ɡuʒɛʁ]), in French cuisine, is a baked savory choux pastry made of choux dough mixed with cheese. There are many variants. The cheese is commonly grated Gruyère, Comté, or Emmentaler,[1][2] but there are many variants using other cheeses or other ingredients.
 Gruyère cheese gougères | |
| Type | Choux pastry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | France |
| Main ingredients | Choux pastry, cheese (usually Gruyère, Comté, or Emmental) |
Gougères are said to come from Burgundy, particularly the town of Tonnerre in the Yonne department.[3]
Gougères can be made as small pastries, 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) in diameter; aperitif gougères, 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in); individual gougères; or in a ring. Sometimes they are filled with ingredients such as mushrooms, beef, or ham; in this case the gougère is usually made using a ring or pie tin.
In Burgundy, they are generally served cold when tasting wine in cellars, but are also served warm as an appetizer. This delicate dish is best for special celebrations, such as parties.
History
While the term currently refers specifically to savory choux pastries, eighteenth and nineteenth century records suggest that it was once an umbrella term for a number of preparations, some composed of just cheese, eggs, and breadcrumbs.[4] The presentation was usually a flat circle, neither a sphere nor a ring.[5][6]
Earlier forms of gougère were more a stew than a pastry, including herbs, bacon, eggs, cheese, spices, and meat mixed with an animal's blood, and prepared in a sheep's stomach. In medieval France, it was a kind of cheese tart or pie. Later, it was unknown outside what is now Belgium, where it became associated with Palm Sunday.[7] But it was also attested in Auxerre (Burgundy) in the 19th century under the name gouere.[8]
Name
The word gougère was formerly spelled gouiere, gouyere,[9] goïère, goyère, or gouyère.[4] The modern spelling appears to date from the 18th century.[9]
The ultimate origin of the word is unknown.
References
- Daniel Young, The Bistros, Brasseries, and Wine Bars of Paris, p. 20. ISBN 0-06-059073-4.
- Larousse Gastronomique, 1988 edition, 2001 translation. ISBN 0-609-60971-8.
- Larousse Gastronomique, 1st edition
- Pierre Larousse, Grand dictionnaire universel du XIXe siècle, 1872, s.v. gougère, though this may be an error
- Noël Chomel, Dictionnaire Oeconomique: Contenant Divers Moyens D'Augmenter Son Bien, Et De Conserver Sa Santé Google Books
- Prudence Boissière, Dictionnaire analogique de la langue française: répertoire complet des mots par les idées et des idées par les mots, 1862 Google Books
- Frédéric Eugène Godefroy, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du ixe au xve siècle, 1885 Google Books
- Jean-Baptiste de La Curne, Dictionnaire historique de l'ancien langage françois, 1879 Google Books
- Trésor de la langue française, s.v. gougère
