Dried Plum And Cheese Strudel Recipes

WILD MUSHROOM STRUDEL

Steps:

• For the mushrooms: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Stir together cremini and oyster mushrooms, sherry, oil, thyme, dill and some salt and pepper in a roasting pan, then roast for 10 minutes. Allow to cool. Remove and discard herb stems.
• For the filling: Sweat carrots, fennel, onions and celery in oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat until soft. Turn off heat and add goat cheese to melt. Transfer to a half-sheet pan to cool.
• For the strudel: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 3 sheet pans with parchment and spray with nonstick spray. (Each strudel must be rolled and baked on its own sheet pan.)
• Mix mushrooms together with the veggies in a large bowl.
• Lay each sheet of pastry on a lined sheet pan.
• Brush the border of each pastry with egg wash, then sprinkle panko in a line down the center of the pastry. Spoon a third of the filling in a line on top of the panko, then sprinkle more panko on top to absorb excess liquid.
• Roll up tightly (like a burrito) and lay seam-side down. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with dill, salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining pastry and filling.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then switch and rotate the sheet pans and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes more. Cool, then cut into 1/2-inch slices.

CHEESE AND CHERRY STRUDEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), blend the cream cheese until soft and smooth. Add the farmer's cheese and continue to blend. Add the egg and mix. Add 1/2 cup of the sugar and the vanilla. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip (or just set aside in a bowl).
• Transfer 1 sheet of phyllo to the prepared pan. Using a pastry brush, brush the phyllo with butter. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/3 of the ground walnuts. Repeat with the 2 remaining sheets of phyllo--reserving the some melted butter and nuts for the top, once rolled.
• Turn the sheet pan so that the phyllo is horizontal to your body. Two inches in from the left-hand edge of the phyllo, working from top to bottom and leaving 2 inches bare at the top and bottom, pipe or spoon a 3/4 inch thick line of cream cheese mixture.
• Alongside the cream cheese, pour the cherry pie filling. Turn the sheet pan a quarter turn and, starting at the edge the fillings are near, roll up the pastry to encase the filling. Keep rolling to form a log. Move the log to the center of the sheet pan and tuck the ends under to keep the filling from oozing out. Brush the surface with melted butter and sprinkle with remaining sugar and nuts.
• Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes on the pan. Using a serrated knife, cut carefully into sections and serve warm.

BLUE CHEESE AND PECAN STRUDEL

Steps:

• Make the clarified butter: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until the bubbling starts to slow down; remove from the heat and let cool. Skim the white foam off the surface and discard. Spoon the remaining butter into a bowl, discarding the solids at the bottom of the saucepan.
• Whisk the egg white, cream cheese and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Gently fold in the blue cheese and candied pecans with a rubber spatula.
• Lay out 1 sheet of phyllo on a large cutting board or work surface with a long side in front of you. (Keep the remaining phyllo covered with a slightly damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Brush the phyllo lightly with some of the clarified butter. Sprinkle evenly with 2 teaspoons breadcrumbs. Repeat to make 5 more layers (phyllo, clarified butter, breadcrumbs), stacking the phyllo as you go. (Reserve some clarified butter to brush on the strudel before baking.)
• Spoon the cheese mixture in a strip down the length of the phyllo, about 1 inch from the long side closest to you. Starting from that side, roll up the phyllo to make a thin log. Wrap the log in plastic wrap or cover with a towel and refrigerate until the filling is firm, at least 1 hour.
• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Place the phyllo roll seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush all over with the remaining clarified butter. Sprinkle with pepper. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until the phyllo is crisp and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool about 15 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board to slice. Lightly drizzle the slices with honey and serve warm or at room temperature.

DRIED PLUM WHIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
• Place the dried plums in a saucepan with 1 cup water and cook at a simmer until soft, about 30 minutes. Push the mixture through a strainer to puree. Add the sugar to the puree and cook 5 more minutes or until it is like marmalade. Let cool slightly. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks, then gradually mix in the puree, and lemon juice.
• Pour into a buttered casserole or souffle dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or cold with whipped cream.

SEAFOOD STRUDEL

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a stainless steel bowl and adjust seasoning. Will hold for 5 days under refrigeration.;
• In a large skillet melt the 4 ounces of butter, turn up the heat to full and quickly sear the fish (in batches so it doesn't leach). Add the flour and allow to cook out for 2 minutes, next add the olives, wine, and 1 cup whipping cream. Bring to a simmer, correct the seasoning and allow to cool.
• Lightly brush one sheet of phyllo with some melted butter. Place another sheet on top of the first and also brush that one with melted butter. Cover remaining sheets and set aside.
• Cut the 2 layered sheets crosswise into 3 equal strips. Place one rounded tablespoon of filling about 1-inch from the end of each strip. Starting at the edge, bring up the phyllo and roll it over the top of the filling, roll once and then tuck the ends in as you would an eggroll, and continue to roll the strudel until you reach the end of the dough. With end underneath, brush top with melted butter and place on parchment lined sheet pan. Repeat this until you have used all the phyllo.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Combine the 2 cups heavy cream, lemon juice, and saffron in a non-reactive bowl, correct seasoning and allow to stand (this will allow the acid time to acidulate the cream and thus thicken slightly to yield a sauce consistency).
• Strudels will hold 5 days under refrigeration, or can be frozen for up to 4 weeks. Acidulated cream will also hold up to 5 days under refrigeration.
• Place on a sizzle plate (2 per order) and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until hot inside and golden brown outside. Present crossed, on warm plates with sprigs of fennel fern, drizzled with acidulated cream, and olive relish sprinkled randomly around.

RUSSIAN STYLE MIXED/DRIED FRUIT STRUDEL

Steps:

• Put the flour in the bowl of an electric mixer. On slow, mix in the butter until it looks like very coarse meal. Mix in the sour cream until it masses together to form a dough. Pat into a rectangle, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.
• Filling:
• Coarsely chop the prunes. In a small saucepan, cover the prunes with the prune juice and sugar. Bring to a simmer for 3 minutes. Place in a food processor with the vanilla and puree to a paste. Mix in the raisins, cherries and walnuts. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a square 16 by16 inches. Place the filling in a log running along the bottom and roll up. Pinch the ends closed. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet, seam side down. Mix the egg and water together to form a wash and paint the strudel. Bake for 30 minutes until crisp and golden. Let cool on a rack, then slice into 1 inch pieces.
• This was my Grandma Bessie's baking specialty. I haven't had this since she died but my brothers and I talk of it often, trying to re-construct what was in it. I re-discovered it at the Golden Key in Brighton Beach. Can be made on a rainy day with items in the pantry