Parmesan Shortbreads with Fennel and Chilli
These Parmesan shortbreads with fennel and chilli are a savoury biscuit snack made with aged Parmesan, plain flour, butter and egg yolk. The Thermomix grinds the fennel seeds, grates the cheese and brings the dough together in minutes. Buttery, crisp and gently spicy, they are ideal with an aperitif or as an elegant homemade gift.
About this recipe
Parmesan shortbreads with fennel and chilli in the Thermomix TM7 are the ultimate savoury biscuit for your aperitif board or drinks party. Searching for an easy snack recipe with your all-in-one kitchen machine? This one delivers buttery, crisp biscuits infused with aged Parmesan, warm fennel seed and a whisper of chilli heat. The TM7 grinds the fennel seeds fresh, grates the hard cheese in seconds and brings the egg-yolk dough together evenly without overworking it — the secret to a melt-in-the-mouth, snappy shortbread. Serve these golden rounds alongside olives and cured meats, pack them into a lunchbox, or wrap them as a homemade gift. Because the dough rests in the fridge before baking, it is a perfect make-ahead recipe for festive gatherings or a relaxed weekend when you want something impressive with minimal effort and maximum flavour.
Preparation tips
- Chill the shortbread dough thoroughly before slicing or cutting shapes; cold Parmesan dough holds its shape in the oven and gives you clean, crisp edges rather than biscuits that spread into one another.
- Brush the tops with beaten egg and press a few extra fennel seeds and chilli flakes on top before baking — this adds a lovely speckled look and intensifies the aniseed aroma of the finished shortbreads.
- The baked shortbreads keep for up to a week in an airtight tin. For a milder, kid-friendly version, simply halve the chilli flakes or leave them out; the fennel and Parmesan still carry plenty of flavour.
Recipe variations
- Gluten-free version: replace the plain flour with a good-quality gluten-free flour blend and rest the dough a little longer. The butter, Parmesan, fennel and chilli flavours remain identical, so everyone at the table can enjoy the same crisp biscuits.
- Festive variation: add the finely grated zest of half an unwaxed lemon and swap the chilli for a pinch of black pepper. These citrusy shortbreads look beautiful on a Christmas drinks board or wrapped in cellophane as an edible gift.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Fresh aromatics - The TM7 grinds fennel seeds and chilli flakes in seconds, releasing far more fragrance than pre-ground spices. [Multi-Functionality]. [Multi-Function]
- Built-in precision - Weigh the plain flour and butter directly into the Thermomix bowl to the gram for consistent shortbread. [Built-in scale]. [Precision Control]
- Grating power - The Thermomix grates the hard Parmesan block finely so it distributes evenly through the buttery dough. [Time savings]. [Time Savings]
- Even mixing - The Thermomix mixes egg yolk and flour into a smooth dough without overworking the butter. [Precise control]. [Precision Control]
- Guided cooking - Cookidoo on the TM7 guides you step by step from grinding seeds to shaping the fennel shortbread logs. [Guided cooking]. [Guided Cooking]
Ingredients
- dried fennel seeds
- dried chilli flakes
- Parmesan cheese
- plain flour
- unsalted butter
- egg yolk
- fine sea salt
- large egg
- sea salt flakes