Crabmeat And Spinach Flan With Smoked Tomato Buerre Blanc Recipes

MONT BLANC

Steps:

• For the hazelnut sugar crust: Preheat the oven to 320 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter, all-purpose and hazelnut flours, turbinado sugar, baking powder, salt and egg until just combined. Roll thin between 2 pieces of parchment paper or on a silicone mat. Cut into 1-inch rounds and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool.
• For the sacher sponge cake: Preheat the oven to 335 degrees F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the almond paste and confectioners' sugar for about 1 minute. Slowly add the egg yolks until well combined. Add the cocoa powder and flour and mix until combined. Add the melted butter and mix until combined.
• In a clean mixer bowl, beat the egg whites and granulated sugar using the whip attachment until they hold stiff peaks; fold into the cocoa mixture. Spread in a 9-by-13- inch pan and bake until the cake is lightly golden and springs back to the touch, about 12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet. Once cool, cut rounds slightly smaller than the base of the hazelnut sugar crust rounds.
• For the blackberry cream: Soak the sheets of gelatin in a bowl of cold water, making sure they are completely covered, 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the blackberry puree, butter, eggs and sugar until it registers 194 degrees F on a candy thermometer, then immediately remove from the heat. Whip the heavy cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
• Squeeze the water out of the gelatin and add the gelatin to the warm blackberry mixture, stirring to dissolve. Let cool to 90 degrees F, then fold in the whipped cream. Transfer to a pastry bag and pipe into small, round silicone molds. Place a hazelnut crust on top of each. (It should be smaller than the base of the cream to fit just inside the mold.)
• For the chestnut cream: Soak the gelatin in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes. Combine the milk, egg yolks and granulated sugar in a saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until it registers 165 degrees F and is thickened slightly. (Be careful not to exceed 165 degrees F or the custard may curdle.)
• Squeeze the water out of the gelatin and add those sheets to the custard, stirring to dissolve. Add to a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, then add the chestnut paste and cream and mix until combined. Chill, then transfer to a pastry bag.
• Unmold the blackberry domes and place them on top of the sacher sponge rounds. Pipe chestnut cream on top of the blackberry domes. Place toasted hazelnuts and chopped chestnuts on top and serve.

SEAFOOD LASAGNE "A LA FRANCAISE"

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet heat 2 tablespoons of butter. When hot add shallots, carrots and celery, cover and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and crab and saute, stirring continuously for 3 to 4 minutes or until seafood is just cooked through. Stir in Cognac and evaporate over high heat. Stir in tomatoes and cook 10 minutes, uncovered, or until mixture is quite thick. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Make a roux: Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and add 4 tablespoons flour. Whisk in cream and milk and simmer five minutes or until thick. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup of the gruyere cheese; season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg Cut the pasta sheets into strips 3 to 4 inches wide and long enough to fit into your gratin or baking dish. Boil, a few sheets at a time until 3/4 done. Drain and cool on clean cloths. Generously butter 3 quart capacity baking pan. Spread a thin film of cream sauce over bottom of baking dish. Arrange a layer of 4 overlapping sheets of lasagne. Spread a thin film of cream sauce over pasta, then seafood mixture. Top with pasta and repeat, reserving 1/3 cup of cream sauce for top layer. Finish with a layer of pasta, cream sauce and remaining 1/4 cup of gruyere. Bake, loosely covered with foil for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 minutes or until hot throughout and only slightly golden on top. Let stand in pan for 5 minutes then serve.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH TOMATO BEURRE BLANC

Steps:

• Make beurre blanc:
• Soak tomatoes in warm water until softened, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and pat dry, then mince. Stir together tomatoes, butter, and salt, then form into an 8-inch log on a sheet of plastic wrap and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, about 1 hour. Cut tomato butter into 12 equal pieces.
• Cook shallot in 1 piece of tomato butter (keep remaining butter chilled) in a small heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add wine and boil until liquid is reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and whisk in remaining cold tomato butter 1 piece at a time, adding each piece before previous one has completely melted and lifting pan from heat occasionally to cool mixture (sauce should not get hot enough to separate). Whisk in water and lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer beurre blanc to a bowl and keep warm, covered, in a larger bowl of warm water.
• Sauté scallops:
• Pat scallops dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sear 6 to 8 scallops, turning once, until golden brown and just cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes total. Transfer to a platter as cooked and keep warm, loosely covered with foil. Sear remaining scallops in same manner, wiping out skillet and adding about 1 teaspoon oil between batches.
• Spoon 3 tablespoons beurre blanc onto each of 6 plates, then top with scallops.

SPINACH, CRAB AND FETA TARTS

Steps:

• Make the spinach and crab tarts: Melt 1 tblsp of the butter in a small saucepan.
• Add the onion and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 6 minutes.
• In a large skillet, melt the remaining 1 tblsp butter in the olive oil.
• Add the spinach and cook over high heat, stirring often, until wilted, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and ¼ tsp salt.
• Spoon the spinach into a colander set over a bowl and press down to remove the excess liquid.
• Transfer the spinach to a large bowl, reserve ¼ cup of the liquid.
• Add the reserved spinach liquid to the sautéed onions.
• Bring to a boil over high heat and boil for 2 minutes.
• Add the mixture to the spinach along with the crabmeat and feta.
• In a small bowl, beat the whole egg, egg white, heavy cream, paprika, cayenne and ¼ tsp of salt.
• Stir the mixture into the spinach.
• Preheat the oven to 350F.
• Lightly butter six 3-ounce muffin cups in a 12-cup muffin tin.
• Spread 1 sheet of filo on a work surface; keep the remaining sheets covered with a damp kitchen towel.
• Brush the filo with some of the melted butter.
• Lay another sheet of filo on top, brush with butter and repeat the process with 1 more sheet of filo and butter (3 sheets in all).
• Cut the filo into three 6-inch squares and gently press a square into each of the buttered muffin cups; discard the trimmings.
• Repeat the process with the remaining sheets of filo and melted butter.
• Using kitchen scissors, trim the corners of the filo, then neatly fold in any overhanging edges.
• Make the sauces: In a blender, combine the tomatoes, red wine vinegar and tomato paste.
• Season with salt and pepper and puree until smooth.
• Strain into a medium bowl.
• Rinse and dry the blender.
• Add the basil and olive oil and puree until smooth.
• Scrape the basil oil into a small bowl and season with salt.
• In another small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, flying fish roe (if using) lemon juice and mustard.
• Spoon the crab filling into the filo-lined cups.
• Bake the tarts in the center of the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the filo is golden-brown and the filling is set.
• Let cool slightly in muffin tin.
• Transfer the crab tarts to individual plates.
• Top each tart with a heaping tsp of the mayonnaise.
• Drizzle the tomato sauce, basil oil and balsamic vinegar around each tart.