Wild Garlic & Cais Na Tire Biscuits

I know Spring is here when I see the delicate white flowers and instantly get a blast of garlic walking through the woods. Matched with one of the best Irish Sheeps Cheese, Cais na Tire these biscuits are the perfect foil for cured meats, cheese or even a warming stew.

Ingredients

240g plain flour

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1.5 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

100g chilled butter

175g Cais Na Tire cheese, coarsely grated

300ml sour cream or creme fraiche

1 egg

3 handfuls of wild garlic, very finely chopped

1 tsp cracked black pepper

1 egg beaten

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220’c
2. Cut the butter into 1cm cubes and put back in the fridge to re-chill for about 15 minutes until cold.
3. In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda and black pepper. Add the grated cheese and incorporate fully.
4. Add the chilled pieces of butter to the flour mix and rub between your fingers forming pea sized clumps, try not to over mix so the butter doesn’t start to melt.
5. Make a hollow in the middle and carefully mix in the sour cream with a fork.  Halfway through folding in the sour cream add the wild garlic. Keep mixing until the dough starts to come together in clumps.
6. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and work it carefully until it comes together. Don’t over work it however, treat it like soda bread!
7. Shape the dough into a 15cm by 15cm square before cutting it into the desired size biscuits.
8. Place onto a lined baking tray, spacing them out evenly.
9. Brush with egg and bake for about 20 minutes, turning the tray halfway through.
10. Serve with relish, cured meats, and cheese, or with a lovely, warming stew.