Fifteen Minute Fruit Gratin Recipes

FRESH RASPBERRY GRATINS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler for at least 15 minutes, with the rack about 5 inches away from the heat.
• To make the sabayon, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering (not boiling) water until thick and creamy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Whisk almost constantly, scraping the egg mixture from the bottom of the bowl. Slowly whisk in the Marsala wine and continue whisking over the simmering water for about 5 more minutes, until the mixture is thick and smooth, like a soft whipped cream. It should register about 150 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Whisk in the vanilla, remove from the heat, and set aside.
• Place one snug layer of raspberries in 6 (6 to 7-inch) shallow gratin dishes. (Each of my dishes holds about one half-pint of raspberries.) Spoon enough sabayon over the raspberries to cover them. Sprinkle each one lightly with granulated sugar. Arrange the dishes on 2 sheet pans and place themone pan at a timeunder the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the tops of the gratins are lightly browned. Watch them carefully; they burn really quickly! Serve warm.

10-MINUTE FRUIT GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat broiler; set rack as close to heat source as possible (even 2 inches is not too close).
• Wash, pit, stem and peel the fruit as necessary. Cut stone fruit in halves or slices, as you prefer. Cut strawberries in thick slices; leave smaller berries whole. Place the fruit (at least 2 cups full) in a baking or gratin dish just large enough to hold it.
• Whip cream with 2 tablespoons of sugar until it is thick and just barely holding soft peaks; stir in the vanilla extract. Pour cream over and around the fruit. Sprinkle with remaining sugar.
• Broil carefully, allowing cream to brown all over and even burn in a couple of spots; rotate baking dish during broiling if necessary. Remove and serve.

WARM PASSION FRUIT GRATIN WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Butter the insides of eight 3 1/2-inch flan rings.
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or wax paper; place rings on top and refrigerate.
• Whisk arrowroot gradually into yolks, beating until smooth.
• Soften gelatin in 2 tablespoons of the water.
• Combine passion-fruit juice and cream in saucepan and bring to boil; remove from heat. Stir a little of the juice mixture into the yolk mixture; then stir all the yolk mixture into the juice mixture. Bring to boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Add gelatin and simmer gently at least 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Mixture will be smooth and as thick as a light pastry cream. Set aside and cover with wax paper or plastic wrap to keep film from forming.
• Combine sugar and remaining 6 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Bring to boil; cover and cook 3 minutes. Remove lid and cook to 275 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• In a large bowl, beat egg whites to soft peaks. Slowly beat sugar syrup into whites and continue beating until mixture is barely warm and glossy.
• Fold warm cream mixture into meringue mixture. Half-fill each ring mold with this mixture, burying 8 to 10 raspberries inside; then completely cover berries with the remaining mixture. Reserve some berries for garnish if desired.
• Refrigerate at least 4 hours in advance, and as long as 24 hours.
• To prepare for serving, preheat broiler. Dust each ring with confectioners' sugar. Arrange rings on oven-proof tray. Glaze briefly under broiler. Watch carefully.
• Slip the molds onto serving plates and serve immediately.

FRUIT GRATIN

Steps:

• Clean the fruits, remove the stone of the peaches and chop in cubes.
• Put all the fruit in an oven-proof dish.
• Top with the crumbled macaroons.
• Mix the orange juice with the lemon zest and sprinkle over the fruit and cookies and leave for about half an hour.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Whisk the egg whites in a very clean bowl, when stiff add the sugar gradually with the vanilla essence, whisk untill glossy.
• Spread the egg whites on top of the fruit and cookie mixture, try to pattern it a bit.
• Bake for approx 10 minutes (keep an eye on it) until colored to your liking.
• Serve garnished with mint and a scoop of ice cream (optional).

GRATIN AUX FRUITS DE MER (JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• In a heavy bottomed 2 quart saucepan, cook the onions in butter over low heat for 5 minutes, until onions are tender but not browned.
• Stir in the flour, and cook slowly for 2 minutes without coloring.
• Off heat, beat in the boiling milk, then the wine, salmon juice, and the seasonings.
• Now bring this sauce to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring.
• Boil several minutes to evaporate the alcohol in the wine, and allow the sauce to thicken considerably. Then, thin it out to a medium consistency with tablespoons of cream. Taste carefully for seasoning.
• Fold the salmon and optional ingredients into the sauce, and check seasoning again. Spread in baking dish or pastry shell.
• Sprinkle on the cheese and distribute the butter in pea-sized dots.
• Bake in upper third of oven for about 15 minutes, or until top is nicely browned.

GUILT FREE FRUIT GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Place raisins, lemon juice, bourbon, and a tablespoon of water in a small saucepan and bring to sa simmer, uncovered.
• Allow to simmer till raisins are soft and plump.
• Arrange sliced fruit in a gratin dish or other samll ovenproof baking dish.
• Scatter rasins over fruit and pour remaining liquid over the fruit as well.
• Mix the bread crumbs, the spices and the lemon rind together and scatter over the fruit.
• If you absolutely must, you may add some artificial sweetner like equal or splenda to the breadcrumb mixture.
• Bake till fruit is bubbly (about 12 - 15 minutes.