This always generates big smiles in all who behold it! Big thanks to Ellie from Kinda Co (makers of incredible plant- based cheeses) for the original recipe, which we collaborated on together in the early days of BOSH! Tapioca flour is crucial for optimum gooeyness, so do seek some out. To get ahead, make the cheese the day before and keep it in the fridge.
Camembosh Hedgehog
Serves 6
Ingredients
75g cashews
1 x 400g fresh tiger loaf
2 garlic cloves
1 tbsp tapioca flour
1½ tsp salt, plus extra for seasoning
3 tsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
150ml warm water
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 tsp olive oil
black pepper
For The Herb Oil
2 garlic cloves
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
8 tbsp olive oil
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Line a baking sheet.
Line a 12cm ovenproof dish with parchment paper.
Place a small saucepan of boiling water on a medium heat.
First make the cheese. Add the cashews to the pan of hot water and boil for 20 minutes to soften. Remove from the heat, drain and leave to cool
Prepare the loaf. Use a bread knife to cut even slices across the top of the loaf, 3cm apart, making sure you don’t cut all the way through as the base needs to remain intact. Turn the loaf 90 degrees and cut across the first slices to make a criss-cross pattern
To make the herb oil, peel and roughly chop the garlic, Remove the leaves from the rosemary by running your thumb and forefinger from the top to the base of the stem (the leaves should easily come away) and finely chop.
Put the garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper into the mortar and bash them with the pestle to make a paste (or put the ingredients in a small bowl and use the end of a rolling pin). Pour the olive oil into the mortar and mix with a fork
Put the loaf on the baking sheet. Use a pastry brush or teaspoon to drizzle the herb oil deep inside the cuts. Put the baking sheet in the oven and cook for 25–30 minutes, until golden and toasted
Meanwhile, finish the cheese. Peel 1 of the garlic cloves and put it in the liquidiser. Add the drained cashews, tapioca flour, salt, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar and warm water. Blend to a smooth cream
Pour the cashew cream into the saucepan, taste and season with salt and pepper. Put the saucepan on a medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, until slightly thickened. Pour into the parchment-lined dish
Peel the remaining garlic clove and cut it into sticks. Remove the rosemary needles. Gently push the garlic sticks and rosemary needles into the top of the cashew cheese so that they stick out the top. Drizzle over the olive oil and sprinkle over a little black pepper
When ready to serve, put the cashew cheese in the oven alongside the bread and bake for the final 12–15 minutes, until the cheese has formed a skin and the colour has darkened.
Remove and serve immediately.
The is an extract from Bish Bash Bosh by Henry Firth & Ian Theasby (HQ Non Fiction, $39.99)