Elegant Aspic Recipes

SHRIMP ASPIC

Steps:

• Soften gelatin in cold water for five minutes, then heat to melt completely.
• Add lemon juice and cool.
• Before it congeals, add mayonnaise, salt to taste and mix well.
• Add remaining ingredients, mix thoroughly but lightly to preserve the shape of the shrimps.
• Lightly spray mold with cooking spray (or lightly oil with vegetable oil) and transfer mixture to mold.
• Chill until firm.
• Unmold onto salad greens.
• Serve with additional mayonnaise.

GAZPACHO SORBET WITH APPLE ASPIC

Steps:

• Make aspic:
• Bring apple juice to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until dissolved. Pour into an 8-inch square baking dish and chill, uncovered, until firm, about 2 hours.
• Make gazpacho sorbet:
• Soften gelatin in hot water 1 minute.
• Mash garlic to a paste with salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a large knife). Blend garlic paste, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, cucumber, vinegar, orujo, and sugar in a food processor until as smooth as possible. Add oil and gelatin mixture with motor running, then force purée through a sieve into a bowl, pressing firmly on solids. Discard solids.
• Chill until cold, about 1 hour, then freeze in ice cream maker. Transfer sorbet to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.
• Reduce balsamic vinegar:
• Boil vinegar in a small nonreactive saucepan until syrupy, 1 to 2 minutes, then cool completely.
• Assemble dish:
• Cut aspic into small cubes and divide among 4 plates. Drizzle aspic with balsamic vinegar, then top with a scoop (about 1/4 cup) of sorbet.

ELEGANT ASPIC

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatin on 1/2 cup tomato juice in a small saucepan and let stand for 5 minutes. Heat on low heat, stirring, until gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat stir in remaining tomato juice, vinegar, onion, salt and hot pepper sauce. Refrigerate until it begins to thicken. Place an egg slice in each of six lightly-oiled custard cups. Drain artichoke hearts place a thin slice of artichoke over each egg slice and spoon over a thin layer of gelatin mixture. Chill just until barely set (sticky but not firm). Chopremaining egg add to gelatin mixture with celery. Pour over aspic in cups and chill until firm. To serve, unmold and garnish with lettuce, remaining artichoke hearts and avocado slices dipped in 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Pass a mixture of mayonnaise mixed with remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice and capers.