• Perfect little savoury biscuits that are great for packed lunch boxes, on cheeseboards or simply devoured as a snack.

    Recipe by Illanique van Aswegen

    Gruyère, almond and kale shortbread biscuits

    Serves: Makes: 24
    Total Time: 1 hour + 1 hour, to refrigerate

    Ingredients

    • 4 (about 110g) large curly kale leaves, stalks removed (and discarded) and trimmed
    • olive oil, to drizzle
    • salt, to taste
    • 115g salted
    • butter, softened
    • 80g Gruyère,
    • finely grated
    • 55g Cheddar, grated
    • 1,25ml (¼ tsp) freshly ground black pepper
    • 15ml (1 tbsp) chives, finely chopped
    • 50g ground almonds
    • 150g cake flour

    Instructions

    1

    Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with some baking paper. Place the kale leaves on the tray, drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake in the oven, 10 minutes. Keep an eye on them as they brown really quickly. Remove from oven and allow the kale to cool before placing in a blender and pulsing until finely ground. Remove any tough, stringy bits.

    2

    Place the butter in a food processor and blend for 1 minute. Add the remaining ingredients and the finely ground kale and pulse until just combined. Use your hands to bring it all together and shape into a log, about 20cm long and 5cm in diameter. Cover with cling film and refrigerate to rest, 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

    3

    Remove the dough from the fridge and, using a sharp, serrated knife, slice into 0,5cm-thick rounds. Place these on a lined baking tray and bake in the oven until crisp and golden, 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

    Notes

    When making the dough, you can add 5ml (1 tsp) extra flour if you find the mixture too wet or, alternatively, add a splash of water if you find it too dry.