Description

These butteries are a traditional Scottish pastry, perfect for breakfast or a snack. They are made with a green onion butter and topped with cheddar cheese and poppy seeds.


Ingredients

  • 1 cup/240ml lukewarm water
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 packet of fast-acting dried yeast (2¼ tsp/7g)
  • 2% cups/350g bread flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 5% oz/150g sharp cheddar cheese, grated (1⅓ cups)
  • ¾ cup/175g unsalted butter, softened
  • 5 green onions, roughly chopped (mounded ½ cup/50g)
  • 1 tbsp poppy seeds
  • salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Put the water, sugar, and yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer, with the dough hook attachment in place. Whisk together, then set aside for 5-10 minutes, until frothy.
  2. Add the flour, along with 1¼ teaspoons of salt, and mix on medium-high speed for 7-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
  3. With lightly greased hands, shape the dough into a smooth ball, then return it to the bowl and set aside, covered (at room temperature), for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  4. Put half the cheese into the small bowl of a food processor, along with the butter, green onions, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and a good crack of pepper. Blitz until smooth, then transfer to a small bowl and set aside, at room temperature.
  5. Transfer the risen dough to a clean and well-floured work surface.
  6. Roll out to form a 10¼ x 16-inch/26 x 40cm rectangle, then, with the short side facing you, add a third of the butter and use the back of a spoon to spread it over the top two-thirds of the dough.
  7. Fold the bottom third up and over, so that it comes halfway up the dough, then fold in the top third, like a letter fold. You should be left with a rectangle measuring about 10 x 6 inches/25 x 15cm.
  8. Give the dough a quarter turn (so that the short side is always facing you), then cover with a clean tea towel and let it rest on the work surface for 20 minutes.
  9. Repeat the spreading and folding process twice more, rotating and resting the dough again for 20 minutes in between.
  10. After the final fold, let it rest again for 15 minutes, then roll it out again to form a 10% x 16-inch/26 x 40cm rectangle.
  11. Cut the dough in half down the middle, then divide each half into six smaller rectangles, for a total of 12 pieces.
  12. Divide them between two parchment-lined baking sheets, cover with a clean tea towel, and let rise for a final 20-30 minutes or until well risen.
  13. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  14. Dip your fingers in flour and gently push them right down into each buttery to create some dimples.
  15. Top the butteries with the remaining ⅔ cup/75g of cheddar and sprinkle with the poppy seeds.
  16. Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate the sheets and continue to bake for 3-5 minutes, until well risen and golden brown.