Eclair recipes around Easter usually go down the path of sweet treats. But this savoury eclair twists things around by stuffing the traditional choux pastry with savoury fillings. Here, the recipe uses a vegetarian filling of mushrooms and trifle. However, you can customise the filling with different options, such as cream cheese with herbs, smoked salmon, or even mousse.
The savoury eclairs work well as finger foods, surprising (and delighting) guests who can taste the familiar pastry and the unexpected filling. Like most eclair recipes, this one also begins by making the choux pastry at home. It’s important to let the pastries cool down before filling, or the pastry will not hold its shape.
While the filling is customisable, it should be thick, spreadable, and pipeable. It’s why cream cheese is added to the mushroom and truffle mix. However, you can also choose to skip the cheese and spoon the mixture in, instead of piping it. In which case, the eclair recipe will result in a looser, more rustic texture, not a clean, bakery-style finish. The filling, in this case, will be chunky, not creamy. However, in both cases, the cooked filling needs to be completely cool and dry before being stuffed into the pastry.
Preheat the oven to 200˚C. Heat butter, water and salt (in the quantities listed under choux pastry) in a saucepan over a low heat. When the butter melts, bring the mixture to a boil and immediately remove from the heat. Now, add the flour to the hot mixture and stir until a smooth, lump-free, and firm paste is formed.
Description - Step 2
Dry out the paste
Place the saucepan with the flour paste on low heat to dry out the paste. Continuously beat the mix till it pulls away cleanly from the sides of the saucepan, forming a ball. A thin film may form at the base—this indicates it’s ready. Transfer the paste to a bowl and let it cool for about 5 minutes so it doesn’t cook the eggs.
Description - Step 3
Make the choux pastry batter
Add an egg to the bowl with the paste and beat vigorously. The mixture may look split at first, but it will come together. Repeat with the remaining eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. The final batter should be smooth, glossy, and thick enough to hold its shape, yet soft enough to fall slowly from a spoon in a ribbon-like consistency.
Description - Step 4
Pipe the pastry
Transfer the batter to a piping bag with a round or star nozzle. Slowly, pipe medium-length eclairs onto a lined baking tray, leaving space between each. Lightly beat the egg with 1 tbsp water or milk to make the egg wash. Gently brush the surface of each eclair with the egg wash, then sprinkle sunflower seeds on top, if using.
Description - Step 5
Bake the choux paste
Bake for 20 minutes, until the pastry is puffed, golden brown and firm. Tip: keep them in the oven with the heat off for 5-10 minutes to prevent them from collapsing. When a choux pastry is tapped, it should sound hollow; that’s when you know it’s done. Remove and let them cool completely before filling.
Description - Step 6
Prepare the filling
Add onion, garlic and thyme leaves to the butter in a pan and cook on low heat till the onions become soft, tender, and translucent. Add the finely chopped mushrooms, and increase the heat to medium. Fry the mushrooms until all the moisture evaporates and the mixture becomes dry and slightly concentrated in flavour. Season with salt and white pepper. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool completely. Once cooled, mix it with softened cream cheese until it forms a thick, smooth, and spreadable filling. Finish with truffle oil and mix gently.
Description - Step 7
Stuff the pastry
Slice open the eclairs from the side or top. Transfer the filling to a piping bag or use a spoon to fill each eclair generously. Serve them fresh.
Common savoury eclair fillings feature rich, creamy ingredients designed to complement the light choux pastry, including herbed cheese, smoked salmon with dill, creamy mushrooms, shrimp/bacon mousse, and savoury cheese blends.
Yes, you can use store-bought choux pastry (or pre-baked shells) to make savoury eclairs because the pastry is not inherently sweet. For best results, toast store-bought shells lightly to improve texture.
Fillings like plain mayo or very thin cream sauces will make the pastry soggy. Ensure fillings are thick, mousse-like, or creamy.
Only add the filling once the pastry has completely cooled down. If you fill eclairs while they are still warm, they will melt the filling and turn the pastry soggy. Similarly, cool the filling completely before stuffing. Warm filling will soften the choux. Ideally, fill the pastry just before serving.