Gougeres

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 425F Line a baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat.
2. 2
   Heat the water, butter, salt and pepper until the butter melts.
3. 3
   Add the flour all at once and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan into a smooth ball.
4. 4
   Remove from heat and let rest 2 minutes.
5. 5
   Add the eggs, one at a time, beating vigorously to ensure the eggs don't 'cook.'
6. 6
   It will appear lumpy at first, then smooth out.
7. 7
   (You can also do this in a food processor or electric mixer.
8. 8
   ).
9. 9
   Add most of the gruyere and all of the parmigiano, as well as the chives; stir until well-mixed.
10. 10
    Scrape the mixture into a pastry bag with a wide plain tip (or a freezer bag with one corner cut off).
11. 11
    Pipe small mounds (about the size of a small cherry tomato, maybe 1 tbsp each), evenly spaced, on the baking sheet.
12. 12
    Sprinkle each puff with a pinch of the remaining cheese.
13. 13
    (You can prepare up to this point and refrigerate, covered, for several hours.
14. 14
    ).
15. 15
    Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, then turn heat down to 375F and bake another 20-25 minutes until they are deep golden brown all over.
16. 16
    For extra-crispy puffs, poke the tip of a knife into the side of each puff about 5 minutes before they are done.
17. 17
    Best served warm.