Beetroot Summer Terrine Recipes

SUMMER VEGETABLE TERRINE

Steps:

• Roast beets:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.
• Trim beets, leaving 1/2 inch of stems intact. Divide between 2 sheets of heavy-duty foil and wrap foil to enclose beets. Roast in a shallow baking pan until very tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Let steam in foil 15 minutes, then peel beets and cut into 1-inch-wide wedges if large. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make gelatin mixture while beets roast:
• Halve leeks lengthwise, then coarsely chop. Wash leeks in a bowl of water, agitating them, then lift out with a slotted spoon and transfer to a 3-quart saucepan. Add carrots to leeks along with sliced celery, shallots, wine, salt, peppercorns, and 3 cups cold water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes.
• Add celery leaves, herb stems, and coarse parts of chives and simmer 10 minutes. Pour stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a 1-quart glass measure or heatproof bowl, discarding solids. If stock measures more than 2 1/2 cups, return to saucepan and boil until reduced to 2 1/2 cups, about 10 to 15 minutes. If there is less, add water. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir gelatin into remaining 1/4 cup cold water and let stand 1 minute to soften, then add to hot stock, stirring until dissolved. Set aside.
• Prepare beans:
• Boil haricots verts and wax beans in separate batches in a 5- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until very tender, 6 to 7 minutes per batch, transferring with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Drain in a colander and pat dry. Transfer to a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Assemble terrine:
• Very lightly oil terrine, then line long sides and bottom with a sheet of plastic wrap, smoothing out any wrinkles and allowing at least 2 inches of overhang on each side. Pour about 1/2 cup gelatin mixture into terrine and quick-chill in freezer until just set, about 10 minutes.
• Lay one third of beans lengthwise over set gelatin layer. Sprinkle with one third of chopped herbs (including chives), then loosely top with half of beets, leaving some space between them (for gelatin to fill and hold vegetables together). Repeat layering with half of remaining beans and herbs and all of beets, then end with a third layer of beans and herbs. Stir remaining gelatin mixture again, then slowly pour in all but 1/2 cup (reserve remainder at room temperature), pushing down vegetables if necessary to just cover with gelatin mixture. Chill, uncovered, until top is set, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• If reserved 1/2 cup gelatin mixture has begun to set, heat until just liquefied but not hot, then pour over set terrine. Chill until firm, about 2 hours.
• To serve:
• Run a thin knife along short sides (ends) of terrine, then invert terrine onto a cutting board, gently pulling on plastic overhang to help unmold (discard plastic wrap). Carefully cut terrine with a very sharp knife into 8 slices, transferring each slice to a plate as cut, using a metal spatula to hold outside of each slice steady. Drizzle oil (1/4 cup) around plates and sprinkle fleur de sel and pepper over oil and terrine.

BEET TERRINE

Steps:

• Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving overhang on the long sides of pan.
• Chop the onion and dill or mint finely.
• Cut the beetroot into small cubes or thin rounds. Layer some beetroot at the bottom of loaf pan. Follow with a layer of onion and then a generous layer of chopped dill or mint. Repeat and finish with a layer of beetroot.
• Mix the vinegars, the water, and teaspoon of honey in a small saucepan, and heat together until honey is dissolved.
• Soften the gelatin leaves in a bowl with cold water, completely covered. Once soft, squeeze out excess water from the leaves and add to the warm water/vinegar sauce. Stir until completely dissolved. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Pour the warm, runny gelatin over the beets in the loaf pan until covered. Press down slightly, cover and refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours, but preferably overnight or longer for a better flavor.
• Slice with sharp knife and serve.