Vanilla Curry Cotton Candy Recipes

KABOCHA SQUASH SOUP WITH CREME FRAICHE, CARAMELIZED GRANNY SMITH APPLE AND MADRAS CURRY COTTON CANDY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Roast kabocha squash whole for approximately 45 minutes or until soft. Remove from oven and set aside until cool. Peel skin and discard seeds keeping only the flesh. Combine flesh in a medium sauce pot with the chicken stock and heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat. With an immersion blender, blend mixture until smooth. Place mixture back on stove and keep simmering for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and add honey, cinnamon sticks and star anise and allow to steep for 1 hour. Strain and keep warm.
• Peel apple and cut it into 12 equal size cube shapes. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon superfine sugar among the apple cubes and broil or brulee until golden brown.
• Put a dollop of creme fraiche on the bottom of a soup bowl, and top with 1 caramelized apple cube.
• In a household or commercial cotton candy maker, add 1 tablespoon of superfine sugar and make 12 equal size balls of cotton candy. Dust curry powder equally on the cotton candy.
• To serve: Pour soup tableside and then spoon cotton candy onto soup.

JACQUES' HOMEMADE COTTON CANDY

Steps:

• To make this recipe at home, you will need a pair of wire cutters and an old inexpensive whisk. Cut the round ends off an inexpensive whisk. Arrange the tines so they are evenly spaced. You will also need an open space to make the cotton candy. At home, slit open a garbage bag and cover the floor area. Wedge 2 long wooden spoons under something heavy so they extend off the edge of the counter.
• Place the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Insert a candy thermometer and cook the sugar mixture until it reaches 320 degrees F, what is known as the hard crack stage (the sugar becomes brittle when it comes in contact with a cooler surface). Remove from the heat and carefully pour into a medium-size microwaveable glass bowl. If you leave the sugar in the pan, the sugar will continue to cook and turn dark brown. A glass bowl will hold the temperature of the sugar. I put a towel under the bowl to keep the bowl from tipping over and to protect my hands from the heat of the glass. (The sugar will stay liquid enough to work with easily for about 10 minutes; after that it will start to thicken. If this happens before you are finished, just pop the bowl in the microwave for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the sugar is liquid enough to work with once again.) If you are going to color and/or flavor the sugar, add those drops now.
• Dip the tines into the hot sugar. Allow the sugar to drain off for 1 to 2 seconds until the draining sugar strands are relatively the same consistency. Then wave the whisk over the extended wooden spoons and allow the sugar strands to gently drift until they are resting on top of the spoons. Make sure you are about 12 to 18 inches above the spoons. Use broad long strokes and work quickly. Gather the cotton candy and roll onto paper that you've rolled into a long, thin cone, like cotton candy is served in at the carnival or serve as is. If you need to store the cotton candy for a few hours, place it in an airtight container. The delicate sugar will melt in a humid environment.

VANILLA-CURRY COTTON CANDY

Steps:

• Mix the sugar and vanilla bean in a bowl; set aside about 30 minutes.
• Preheat a cotton-candy machine according to the manufacturer's instructions, at least 5 minutes. Turn off the cotton-candy machine, pour the sugar mixture into the center and turn on the machine. When it starts to spin cotton candy, hold a paper cone in the middle, perpendicular to the machine, and move it around the edges to accumulate the cotton candy on the cone. Sprinkle with the curry powder.

COTTON CANDY AVOCADO

Steps:

• Split the vanilla bean pod and scrape out the seeds. In a bowl, combine pod, seeds and sugar and mix well. Cover the bowl and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours, to infuse the sugar with the flavor of the vanilla.
• Peel and cut avocado into 6 (1/2-inch) cubes. Lightly salt the avocado. Put the cornuts in a heavy-duty plastic bag. Using a rolling pin, crush the cornuts. (Don't crush them too fine.) Transfer the cornuts to a plate.
• Slide a avocado cube onto the end of each skewer. Roll the avocado in the cornuts to coat.
• Heat the cotton candy machine. Put the vanilla sugar in the extractor. When the cotton candy begins to form, dip the avocado skewers, one by one, and twirl to cover.

CURRIED RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Cut the red snapper into small pieces and place in a bowl. Season with the salt, black pepper, scallion, and curry powder.
• Allow the fish to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• When you are ready to proceed, heat the butter and oil in a large saute pan. Add the fish and saute until it is lightly browned on both sides. Add the peppers, garlic, coconut milk, water, tomatoes, and onions. Cover the fish and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pan, and simmer until the fish is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes, adding more water if necessary. Also, add a touch more curry, if necessary, for your taste. Finish with fresh cilantro leaves.
• Serve this splendid dish with white rice and fried plantains.