I hate to admit this, but I recently spent $200 on a new waffle iron.
This post may contain affiliate links.
Crazy, I know. But I love waffles. And so does Jorge. So I feel like it’s more of an investment piece for the kitchen ;).
Since purchasing this beast of a machine, I’ve been cooking up waffles almost every weekend. Buttermilk waffles topped with fresh fruit and nuts. Pumpkin waffles drizzled with ginger syrup. Spiced vanilla waffles dotted with leftover cranberry sauce. And these Savory Waffles with Rosemary, Ham and Dubliner Cheese.
Studded with rosy chunks of Black Forest ham, these buttermilk waffles are laced with woodsy rosemary and caramelized bits of Irish cheese. Similar to mature cheddar, Kerrygold Dubliner has a complex flavor with both sweet, nutty tones and a sharp bite like Parmesan. The marriage of these flavors just works.
Serve these savory waffles with warm maple syrup, a sunny-side up egg or fried chicken. Eventually, I’d love to use them as the bread component in a BLT. Cook up a batch of these cheesy waffles for a special Holiday breakfast or serve for dinner with some more savory accompaniments. You could even cut them into smaller squares and serve as an appetizer. Fried chicken and waffle bites, oh damn!! Continue reading for the recipe.
Does one need a $200 waffle iron to make these loaded savory waffles? Not really. You can make these waffles in any old waffle iron, square or round. I do love my $200 waffle iron though 😉
There are two factors that make these waffles so tender and delicious:
- High quality, complex cheese. Avoid mild or low quality cheese. Kerrygold Dubliner has a robust flavor that seems to amplify when caramelized. The crispy bits around the edges are SO tasty. If you can’t find Dubliner, try a mixture of sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheese.
- Let the batter rest. Set the prepared batter aside for 30 minutes to let the gluten relax. The resulting waffles will have a more tender, light texture. (thanks for the tip Linda!)
Savory Waffles with Rosemary, Ham and Dubliner Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine grain sea salt
- 1 3/4 cups buttermilk (be sure to shake up the carton before pouring and measuring)
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled, plus extra for brushing
- 2 eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup (3.5 ounces) coarsely grated Kerrygold Dubliner cheese
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1/4 pound (4 ounces) black forest ham, diced*
- Maple syrup, for serving
Instructions
- Add flour, baking powder and sea salt to a large bowl, whisking to combine and aerate. In a medium bowl, combine buttermilk, butter, eggs, and egg yolk, mixing until just combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients, and stir until just combined. Don’t overmix here. It’s ok to have lumps, but make sure any large patches of flour are mixed in. Stir in Dubliner cheese and rosemary, then let the batter sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Preheat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Brush the top and bottom plates lightly with melted butter to keep the waffles from sticking. Scoop 1/2 cup of batter in each well**, and using a spatula, spread the batter out to the corners. Sprinkle a heaping tablespoon of diced ham over each well, close the waffle iron, and cook until golden brown.
- Enjoy immediately with maple syrup. If making waffles for a crowd, prepare in batches and keep waffles warm in a 250°F oven until ready to serve.
Notes
I partnered with Kerrygold on this article. They provided me a selection of their delicious cheeses to sample. #KGgrassfed.
19
I’m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!
Arthur in the Garden! says
Great recipe! I often forget to shake up the buttermilk…ug!
Nicole says
These waffles look perfectly crisp on the outside. And, I love anything with CHEESE!
Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says
I seriously love the idea of savory waffles. I make waffles pretty frequently, and these will be next on my list – love the use of Dubliner in there!
Kristen says
I am a huge Dubliner cheese fan. I often eat it straight, but the thought of it in a savory waffle with ham and herbs has be practically drooling. When my kids were all little, I had two waffle irons so I could make them fast enough for the hungry hordes. I completely get the $200 waffle iron.
Lizthechef says
These look fantastic – I gave my husband a cheap waffle iron for Father’s Day and am thinking maybe Santa should deliver a better quality one. I will pass on the tip about letting the dough rest. Happy Holidays!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Liz!! This is the waffle iron I purchased: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/breville-smart-waffle-maker/ Been loving it! I wish the plates were removable to make cleaning a snap, but it’s not really an issue.
J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats says
I am not a pancake lover but adoreee waffles! Sadly am very counter and cabinet-space challenged so will have to maintain my search for some kind of waffle recipe that can be made on a panini press or something to that effect….
The rosemary in this just takes it to the next level 🙂
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
There has never been a more perfect waffle. The ham and Dubliner alone have me sold, but in a waffle…perfection.
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
A waffle iron is definitely an investment. But it’s worth it. I finally bought one this year after much laboring. And now I want to waffle everything. So good! I’m totally digging these savory waffles!
Alexandra says
Ah so gorgeous!
My boyfriend adores waffles. I’m so making these for him. Thank you!
Brooks says
Brandon, fantastic savory waffles here! All of the varieties mentioned in the post have me hungry. I love how a new kitchen gadget becomes a constant source of inspiration. Well done, sir.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
You stole the Kerrygold thought right out from under me! I make a savory waffle, too, only yours look waaaaay prettier. I might need a $200 waffle iron too. Notice I said NEED.
Alana says
YES to that Breville Smart Waffle Maker. We have the two square and I’m obsessed. I love it so much, I got one for my dad last year (he loves waffles almost as much as we do). These ham and dubliners are AMAZE!!! Bookmarking these for our next Sunday brunch!
CakeSpy says
Absolutely perfect!! These could be eaten for any meal. I love the ham and cheese combo.
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Never tried a savory waffle before! This is definitely a delicious recipe I need to try.. perfect use of your new waffle iron too.
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
I am always looking for delicious ways to make waffles savory and this way is just the kind I like though I might switch ham for something else! Yumm.
She Rocks Fitness says
Some kitchen appliances are worth the splurge! 😉 I love savory waffles…it is such a nice switch up from the sweet ones and it’s always a good excuse to have waffles for dinner too! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie says
Yup, those are proobbbbbably the best looking waffles I’ve ever seen- worth that waffle iron, I’m telling you!!! This sounds SO good, I’m on a breakfast kick lately so this is really appealing… definitely pinning and adding to my breakfast list! 🙂
Maureen says
I would love this waffle for breakfast. I like your version of this waffle. The ham and cheese makes it fantastic and I love that you used rosemary. Yummy!
Jacquesweet says
Made these tonight, very, very good! Made some maple butter to slather with, so yum! Planning to freeze the rest for toasting in days to come!
Brandon Matzek says
Yay!!! So glad you liked the recipe. Thanks for sharing.
George says
I gotta say, these really are the best ever waffles. They are so fluffy and buttery. My only regret is not having made a double batch. I will never use another waffle recipe.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks for sharing feedback George!! So glad you liked the recipe 🙂
Emily says
so I didn’t have any ham…and could not for the life of me find the Dubliner cheese in my small Georgia town. But let me tell you, I subbed in thick cut bacon and applewood smoked Gouda and used the rest of the recipe. My husband and 6 year-old have not stopped talking about them. Thanks for the amazing recipe. I’m determined to find the Dubliner now!!
Brandon Matzek says
YES!! I love hearing things like this. So glad your family liked the recipe 🙂 Great substitutions too! If you can’t find Dubliner, perhaps try a mix of sharp cheddar and freshly grated Parmesan. Enjoy!
Katia says
Made these tonight for “brinner” and they turned out fantastic! Had to substitute Dubliner cheese for asiago because it was the closest I had at the moment, but it was quite yummy! Perfect consistency too. Thanks!
Brandon Matzek says
Asiago sounds like a delicious substitution 🙂 So glad you liked the waffles!! Thanks for sharing Katia.
Jean says
These are by far the best waffles I have ever eaten. The flat combinations just ht all the right notes. Once they are gone I cannot stop thinking about when I might make them again. They are THAT good! So glad I came across this recipe! Thanks, Brandon!
Jean says
Should say flavor combinations hit all the right notes. Gotta love auto correct!
Brandon Matzek says
Hi Jean! I am SO glad you enjoyed these waffles :)!! Thanks for sharing and have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Jeff the Chef says
These waffles sound fantastic!