INGREDIENTS
DOUGH:
200 g flour
200 g butter (medium soft)
200 g finely grated or micro planed, good quality Parmesan
GARNISH:
Balsamic vinegar
Mushroom slices
Or savoury chutney
TIP: Butter must be medium soft. Too cold - butter doesn’t incorporate. Too warm - the mix will be very soft. Leave the butter out of the fridge for about an hour before you make the biscuits.
METHOD
Preheat oven to 135°C using a CircoTherm or fan bake setting. Put baking paper onto two oven trays.
Combined all of the ingredients together in a kitchen machine with a stirring attachment, mix it slow at first, then faster until it is combined.
Turn out and roll dough into a long sausage, about 40mm thick, wrap it in glad wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes (or you can freeze the dough at this point to use at a later date).
Cut dough into 3mm thick rounds and arrange on the baking trays.
Bake shortbread about 25 minutes, or until dark golden. Stand on oven trays for 10 minutes.
TIP: Delicious served with balsamic glazed mushroom slices or your choice of savoury chutney.
Des Harris
Des Harris is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s most prominent chefs. Originally from Wellington, Des spent his formative years leading the kitchen at Logan Brown under Chef Al Brown.
Des went on to be Clooney Restaurant’s Executive Chef for almost 9 years. Amongst many achievements, his career highlight is being awarded ‘Chef of the Year’ and leading the restaurant to a 3 Hat standard in the inaugural edition of the Good Food Guide in 2013.
In November 2016 Des consulted on one of the most successful openings of the year at Augustus Bistro in Auckland.
Des is now the executive chef at The Hunting Lodge Winery in Waimauku. Here he has found a new expression, through the synergy he shares with the wine maker and permaculturist.