It’s Easy Being Cheesy

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by Hannah (BitterSweet)
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Dear Mr. Chester Cheetah,

I take issue with your early assertions on the degree of difficulty one might encounter attempting to become properly cheesy, whether it was in regard to humor or flavor. Though the remark was somewhat ambiguous on that point, it was poignant enough to remain a prominent reference point in modern culture over three decades after the initial statement, misinforming generations of ignorant eaters. For this, countless have been deprived of full cheesy satisfaction. Respectfully, I would request that you retract this proclamation, post-haste.

Sincerely,

Hannah Kaminsky

My friends, you’ve been misinformed all these years. I’m sorry for anyone that’s been deprived of their full inalienable rights to cheesiness due to the confusion, but I’m here today to put an end to that grave injustice.

Cheese doodles, cheese puffs, cheesy poofs or any variation on the name have been a mainstay in American snacking practices since their invention in the 1930’s, yet few people have successfully recreated the same crunchy, crispy treat in their own homes. Big manufacturers would like us to believe that only specialized equipment can create that distinctive snacking experience, but it’s not so! The truth is, you just need to use your noodle and get a little bit creative.

Inspired by the Tresomega Nutrition’s Blogger Recipe Challenge, I found that the unique blend of whole grains and starches found in their gluten-free pasta could create a perfectly hearty yet light crispness with just a little bit of experimentation. Their unique composition is what will make or break the recipe, so you do want to source out the genuine article for best results.

Happily, the quinoa fusilli is available for purchase at Tresomega.com, Sams.com, Amazon.com, and Walmart.com, so there’s no need to hunt and scour grocery store shelves in vain. Technically, any shape would do the trick, but those tight spirals fry up to a perfectly crisp consistency and capture the most cheesy seasoning in every delicious bite.

Savory, salty, and oh so addictive, I daresay these just might beat that misinformed cheetah at his own game.

Once and for all, I’d like the record to state that it IS easy being cheesy, and without any dairy or gluten, either!

Yield: Makes 6 - 8 Servings

Cheesy Pasta Doodles

Cheesy Pasta Doodles

Create your own cheesy twist at home, using little more than fried pasta and nutritional yeast! This healthier, homemade version can easily rival that of any cheese doodles, cheese puffs, or cheesy poofs at the grocery store.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Begin by bringing a generous pot of water up to a boil. Add in the full box of pasta, stirring to make sure the pieces don’t clump together, and cook for just 3 minutes. You’re not trying to fully cook them yet, so they should still be slightly crunchy on the inside. Drain, immediately rinse with cold water, and spread the noodles out on sturdy paper towels or a clean dish towels. Air dry thoroughly, so that they’re no longer wet or sticky to the touch.
  2. Begin heating the neutral oil in a medium saucepan with high sides over moderate heat on the stove.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the cheesy seasoning by combining all of the remaining ingredients in your food processor or blender, pulsing until the nuts have broken down into a fine meal. Be careful not to overdo it or else you’ll create a cheesy cashew butter instead! For best results, freeze your cashews for 8 hours in advance to prevent them from heating up too much while processing.
  4. Once the oil comes up to about 375 – 385 degrees, add in a handful of the par-cooked pasta, using a wire basket strainer to push the pieces around and keep them separate. Fry for 3 – 4 minutes until the pasta floats and the vigorous bubbling subsides. The pasta will not become particularly brown, so don’t judge the doneness by color.
  5. Scoop out the finished pieces, drain away the excess oil, and let rest on fresh paper towels or dish towels for about 1 minute. Toss in a large bowl with a hefty sprinkle of the cheesy seasoning, to taste. Repeat with the remaining noodles. Serve right away.
  6. You may have extra cheesy seasoning, which can be saved in an airtight container for up to two weeks in the fridge, or two months in the freezer.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1105Total Fat: 118gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 104gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 207mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 7g
© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: American / Category: Starters and Snacks

11 thoughts on “It’s Easy Being Cheesy”

  1. I have a sudden yen for pasta, but I was NOT so happy about an ad that kept loading at the bottom of the post, jerking my page down to it until I finally had to re-load. Then it played and I couldn’t find a way to turn it off. Sigh. Happy Friday, Hannah, and have a wonderful weekend.

    janet

    1. Ugh, so sorry about the ad, Janet. I wish I had more control over those, but this is what I get for staying with the free WordPress.com platform. I’m glad you stuck around through it to read the post though. You persistence means a lot to me, since I do always look forward to your comment.

      1. I know it’s not your fault, but that’s the first time that big ad at the bottom wouldn’t stop. Ah, well, so it goes. Have a wonderful weekend with lots of great food.

  5. Me and Chester go way back, I even had a Chester Cheetah plush doll. I would trade the plush and all the cheetos for a bowl of your cheesy pasta doodles. What a brilliant idea! never in a million cheetos would I think to fry up a pasta noodle as a cheesy snack. :-)

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