Savory Crepes Florentine Recipes

CREPES FLORENTINE

Steps:

• For crepes, in a large bowl, combine the milk, eggs and butter. Combine flour and salt; add to milk mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. , Heat a lightly greased 8-in. nonstick skillet; pour 2 tablespoons batter into the center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to evenly coat bottom. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer. Remove to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining batter, adding butter to skillet as needed. When cool, stack crepes with waxed paper or paper towels in between., For filling, in a large saucepan, melt 5 tablespoons butter. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg until smooth; gradually add the milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat to low; stir in the cream and 3/4 cup Gruyere cheese. Cook and stir until cheese is melted. Remove from heat., In a skillet, saute mushrooms and shallot in 2 tablespoons butter until tender. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and egg until smooth. Beat in mushroom mixture. Add enough cheese sauce to achieve a spreadable consistency. In a large bowl, combine the spinach and 1/2 cup cheese sauce until blended. Add additional sauce if needed to achieve a spreadable consistency., To assemble, on two greased 9-in. ovenproof pie or tart pans, layer a crepe, spinach mixture, another crepe, then mushroom mixture. Repeat five more times. Pour remaining sauce over the stacks. Sprinkle with remaining Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses. Dot with remaining butter. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour., Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before baking. Bake at 350°; for 55-60 minutes or until bubbly and golden and a thermometer reads 160°. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting. Cut into wedges.

CREPES WITH CHICKEN AND SPINACH FILLING

Steps:

• For crepes, beat in one egg into a deep bowl, season with a pinch of salt. Whisk nicely using a whisk or a mixer. Pour milk and water, whisk once again. Sift the flour to the mixture and give the batter the last whisk. Make sure to get rid of all the lumps. The fluid should be smooth for the best result. Let the batter rest for 15-20 minutes before making crepes.
• Lightly grease a non-stick pan and let it heat on medium setting of the stove. Take a full ladle of batter and evenly distribute it over the surface of the pan by swirling motions. Cook on each side until golden.
• Make crepes by using all the batter. Stack them on the flat plate.
• For the filling, cut chicken breast into small pieces. Cook them in oil on high heat until cooked through. Add salt only at the end of the process, so that chicken meat stays juicy. Here you can also add some extra seasoning, for example, the mix of your favorite dried herbs.
• While chicken is cooking on the stove, combine half-and-half cream, grated light cheese, and crushed garlic cloves in a deep bowl. Add marjoram to the mix and nicely whisk the mixture.
• Add spinach to the skillet with the chicken and cook for a minute constantly stirring the mixture. Pour the creamy sauce into the skillet.
• Let it cook for 2 to 5 minutes until the sauce becomes thick. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Place a heaped tablespoon of the filling in the center of the crepe and then roll it in the desired shape.
• Place all the rolled crepes with filling in a casserole dish and sprinkle grated hard cheese over.
• Bake chicken crepes for 10 minutes in the preheated oven at 350ºF/180°C or until cheese melts. Serve still warm!

SAVORY CREPES FLORENTINE

Steps:

• To prepare the filling:.
• In a large bowl, combine the ricotta or tofu, spinach, onion, egg, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg.
• To prepare the sauce:.
• Melt the butter in a heavy medium size saucepan over moderate heat.
• Add the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until bubbly-2 to 3 minutes.
• Slowly blend in the milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer, still stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes or until thickened and smooth.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese, white pepper, and mace.
• One at a time, place each crepe with the most attractive side facedown, so that it will be on the outside when rolled.
• Spoon 3 to 4 tbls.
• of filling down the center, then fold the sides over.
• The crepe should be snugly filled, but not so stuffed that the filling spills out at the ends.
• Preheat the oven to 350*F.
• Lay the crepes seam side down, just touching one another, in a lightly greased, 13"x9"x2" baking dish.
• Pour the sauce over all; top with the Parmesan cheese.
• At this point, the crepes can be stored.
• refrigerate in the baking dish, tightly covered, for up to 24 hours.
• (From the refrigerator, preheat the oven to 400*F. Bake, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Uncover and proceed baking for 30 to 40 minutes, as stated below) Freeze in the labeled, tightly covered dish for up to 1 month at 0*F (From freezer,Preheat the oven to 400*F. Do not thaw the crepes. Bake, uncovered, for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until the crepes are heated through and the sauce is simmering. Brown and serve as states below).
• Bake the crepes, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling.
• run them under the broiler until browned-2 to 3 minutes.
• Accompany with a salad of sliced tomatoes and red onions with a creamy vinaigrette.
• Enjoy!
• Serves 6.