Croutes Recipes

BOEUF EN CROUTE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over high heat until very hot. Sear the filets until well-browned on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove the filets from the skillet, and chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Filets must be cold.
• In the same skillet over medium heat, melt the butter, and cook and stir the mushrooms, shallot, and garlic until the shallots are tender and translucent and the mushrooms have given off their juice, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of red wine, scraping and dissolving any browned flavor bits from the pan. Transfer the mushroom mix into a bowl, and chill in refrigerator for about 45 minutes.
• Place 2 pieces of puff pastry on a work surface, and top each with a chilled filet. Spread half the mushroom mixture in a neat layer on top of of each filet, and top each with a piece of puff pastry. Fold and pinch the edges of the pastry together, sealing in the contents, and trim to make a tidy package. Cut a small slit into the top of each package.
• Pour 1 1/2 cups of red wine into a saucepan over medium heat, and simmer until the wine is reduce by half, about 15 minutes. Season wine sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, whisk egg into milk in a bowl, and brush the pasty packages with the egg mixture for a browner crust, if desired. Return the bundles to the refrigerator to keep cold.
• Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the puff pastry bundles onto the prepared baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is golden brown and crisp and the filets are the desired degree of doneness (for medium-rare, about 15 minutes; an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 130 degrees F (54 degrees C)). Serve each filet in the pastry shell with spoonfuls of wine sauce on top.

CROUTES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Using a round cookie or oval cutter, cut bread into eight shapes, each just larger than a poached egg. Brush both sides with butter or oil. Bake, turning once, until light golden brown and crisp, about 15 minutes.

CREAM OF LENTIL SOUP WITH CHORIZO CROUTES

Steps:

• Soak the lentils in cold water for 2 hours. Drain the lentils, and put them in a pot with the carrot, onion, bay leaf, thyme sprig, and stock. Cover the pot and simmer until very tender, about 45 minutes.
• Discard the herbs, and let the lentils cool somewhat, then puree in a blender along with the vegetables, working in 2 batches to avoid an explosive mess.
• Cook's Note: Remember that if you put something too hot into a blender you may crack it.
• For a very smooth soup, strain it, although it's not necessary. Add salt and pepper, to taste, along with a squeeze of lemon if you like. Gently reheat the soup.
• Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan, and saute the chorizo slices until they curl, about 30 seconds. Turn and fry another 15 seconds. Serve the soup with the chorizo rounds on top and with some of the now bright-orange cooking oil spooned around.

WINTER MINESTRONE WITH PESTO CROûTES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add the onion and lardons or bacon and fry for about 5 mins until the onion is starting to brown. Tip in the carrots, celery, potato and garlic, stir well and cook for a few minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, stock and sage, and bring to the boil, stirring. Reduce heat to simmer and cook partly covered for 30 mins, stirring in the cabbage after 15 mins. Drain and rinse the beans and add to the pan with the parsley. Season and serve with pesto croûtes, see right, or crusty bread.
• For the pesto croûtes: Cut 3-4 slices of crusty bread into chunks, about 2cm thick. Tip into an ovenproof pan. Mix the olive oil and pesto, then add to the bread, tossing it with your hands until the croûtes are evenly coated. Bake in a moderate oven for about 10 mins until crisp.

NEXT LEVEL SALMON EN CROûTE

Steps:

• The day before you want to assemble the en croûte, mix the salt and sugar in a bowl. Scatter half of the mix over a tray, then lay one of the salmon fillets on top, skinned-side down, and scatter with more of the salt mix. Lay the second fillet on top, skinned-side up, and sprinkle over the rest of the salt mix. Cover, then place another tray on top. Weigh the tray down with a couple of tins and put in the fridge for up to 48 hrs, or for at least 12 hrs (the longer you leave it, the firmer the salmon will be).
• When you're ready to assemble the en croûte, unwrap the salmon fillets, rinse them in cold water and dry with kitchen paper, then set aside. Put the watercress, cream cheese, dill, lemon zest and juice, smoked salt (if using) and a generous grinding of pepper into a bowl and mix well, then set aside.
• Line a baking tray with parchment. Roll out half of the pastry on a lightly floured surface so it's 2.5cm larger in diameter than the salmon fillet, then drape it over the lined baking tray. Place one of the fillets on the pastry, skinned-side down, and spread with the cream cheese mix, then lay the second fillet on top, skinned-side up. Brush the edge of the pastry with a little of the beaten yolk. Roll out the rest of the pastry to fit, then drape it over the salmon and tuck it in at the sides. Trim the edges and crimp or press with a fork to seal. Brush with more beaten yolk, then put the en croûte in the fridge for 30 mins before using a spoon to create a scale-like effect along the top of the pastry. Chill for up to 24 hrs or for at least another 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake for 20 mins, then glaze with the remaining yolk. Lower the heat to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and bake for 20 mins more, then remove and leave to stand for 10 mins.
• To make the pickle, put the cucumber and onion in a bowl. Tip the vinegar, sugar and a pinch of salt into a pan and bring to the boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, pour over the veg, toss well and set aside. Can be made up to two days ahead and kept in the fridge. Slice the en croûte into six portions and serve with the pickled veg on the side.

GARLIC CROUTES

Steps:

• Halve garlic. Cut six 1/3-inch-thick slices from middle of loaf and brush bread with oil. Lightly oil a well-seasoned ridged grill pan and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Grill bread until golden brown on both sides. Immediately rub bread on 1 side with cut side of garlic and sprinkle with salt.

DUCK LIVER PARFAIT, CHERRY COMPOTE & SOURDOUGH CROUTES

Steps:

• Heat a piece of the butter in a frying pan. Once melted and sizzling, add the shallots, thyme, peppercorns and coriander seeds with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 mins, until the shallots begin to colour, then turn up the heat slightly, add the livers and cinnamon and cook for 3-4 mins. Splash in the madeira and bubble until reduced by about half. Transfer to a bowl to cool and grate over some fresh nutmeg.
• Once cool, transfer the mix to a blender, add the butter and Grand Marnier and blitz. Check for seasoning, then pass through a fine sieve. Pour into ramekins or small bowls, leaving a gap for the cherry topping, and place in the fridge to set.
• To make the cherry glaze, very gently melt down 80g of the cherry compote with the vinegar and a pinch of salt. Allow to cool slightly, then top the parfait with the cherry mix. Return to the fridge to set for a couple more hours. Can be made up to two days in advance.
• To make the sourdough croutes, heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss your sourdough with a really generous pinch of salt, a good drizzle of olive oil and the thyme leaves. Roast in the oven for 15-20 mins until crisp and golden. The croutes can be made a day ahead and kept in an airtight container. Let guests spread the parfait over of the croutes and enjoy.

HOMEMADE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Rub the whole garlic clove over both sides of the sourdough. Tear it into rough chunks and toss with the oil, a good pinch of salt and the seeds.
• Spread out on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 mins until golden and crisp. Mix with the chopped parsley. Sprinkle on soup or a salad for added crunch.