Roasted Pineapple With White Chocolate Caramelized Macadamia Nuts Recipes

ROASTED PINEAPPLE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE CARAMELIZED MACADAMIA NUTS

Steps:

• Chocolate Ring:
• Begin by melting the milk and white chocolate. Cut 4 sterilized, food-safe flexible plastic strips 1 1/2 inches wide and 5 inches long. Spread a thin layer of milk chocolate on the plastic strips. Using the tine of a fork, scrape the length of the strip through the chocolate to create lines. Spread a layer of white chocolate immediately, directly over and then fold to form a ring. Seal edge with a plastic strip. Set aside to harden.
• Preheat the oven to 360 degrees F.
• Mix the sponge by whisking the eggs and sugar on high speed for 15 minutes, until pale yellow and thick. Take out of the mixer and fold in by hand the sifted flour, chopped macadamia nuts, and melted butter. Spread thinly on a buttered, floured and parchment lined baking tray and bake for 15 minutes.
• Lower the oven to 340 degrees F.
• To roast pineapple, begin by cutting the pineapple into grape size pieces and then toss in sugar and spices. Bake for 2 hours. Let cool.
• To caramelize the macadamia nuts, first warm the nuts in the oven for 5 minutes. While nuts are warming, place the sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar melts and turns an amber color, about 10 minutes. Carefully add the nuts to the sugar mixture and stir to coat the nuts. Carefully remove from the pan and cool on a marble table or baking tray.
• To make mousse, boil the milk, remove from the heat and add the gelatin while mixing in the white chocolate. Cool down slightly before folding in the whipped cream.
• To make the jelly, melt the gelatin with the mango puree and strain into a container for future use.
• To plate, place a circle of sponge in the base of the chocolate ring, sprinkle with chopped caramelized macadamias. Pipe 1/3 of the cup with mousse; place a spoonful of pineapple mix, top with mousse and a layer of mango jelly. Place in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours. Once chilled, remove the plastic strip, top with caramelized macadamia nuts and macadamia sponge.
• Serve immediately.

CARAMELIZED MACADAMIA NUTS

Steps:

• Heat small heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar and macadamia nuts to the pan and stir.
• Continue stirring until the sugar has melted and caramelized the macadamia nuts.
• Carefully transfer nuts onto waxed paper. Let cool - break into pieces.

ROASTED PINEAPPLE CARPACCIO

Steps:

• For the Pineapple: Peel the pineapple and leave whole. In a saute pan, melt the butter and add the brown sugar and vanilla beans. Cook to caramelize the sugar; then place the pineapple in and cook on all sides until brown. Add some water to the pan and continue cooking, turning the pineapple with tongs and basting occasionally until cooked through to the core. It may take 1 hour or more. Chill, then slice thin on an electric slicer set on #12 or slice thinly by hand.
• For the Coconut Cilantro Dressing: Whisk the ingredients together and chill.
• For the Macadamia Nut Brittle: In a saucepan, boil the sugar and water together to make a caramel. Test the color of the caramel on a white plate--you're looking for a topaz color. Turn off the heat and stir in the butter with a wooden spoon then stir in the nuts. Pour onto a silicone baking mat and let cool. Chop and keep in an airtight container.
• For the Crystallized Cilantro Leaves: Place egg white in a small bowl and whisk it slightly to break it up a bit. Dip the individual leaves in the egg white and wipe them off on the edge of the bowl to remove any excess. Dip into granulated sugar on both sides. Let dry.
• For the Coconut Butter Cookies: In a mixer with a paddle attachment, whip the butter until very light and fluffy, warming the bottom of the bowl with a torch if needed. Add the sugar and continue whipping; then add the rum and vanilla and mix. Toss together the coconut, flour, and salt; then add to the butter mixture and mix until blended.
• Butter a small sheet pan and line it with plastic all the way up the sides. Spread the dough evenly into the pan, cover it with plastic and freeze. Cut into 2-inch strips and roll in flour. Wrap and freeze or cut into 1/8-inch bars and place on parchment lined sheet pan. Bake in a preheated 250 degree F. oven until crisp but barely any color, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• To make the Coconut Strips: Heat a whole coconut over a gas flame to slightly char all sides. Wrap it in a tea towel and whack it on the floor to break it open. Carefully pry the meat from the shell in as whole pieces as possible. With a vegetable peeler, peel off thin strips of the fresh coconut meat to end up with curves of fresh coconut. Store in simple syrup, chilled to cover.
• To serve the dish: Place 5 to 7 slices of pineapple on a plate in a flower pattern, with 1 in the center, surrounded by the others. Brush the surface of all the slices with the coconut cilantro dressing. Cover the plate with plastic wrap and warm it in the microwave oven for about 1 minute. Remove the plastic wrap and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and macadamia nut brittle.
• Place a quenelle of lime sherbet in the middle and drape coconut shavings in an X over the sherbet. Place 2 crystallized cilantro leaves on top. Serve with a side of coconut shortbread cookies using colorful origami paper under the cookies and stacking them in a criss-cross tower, like bruscetta with the carpaccio.