Frozen Nougat Terrine With Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce And Raspberry Fig Sauce Recipes

FROZEN NOUGAT TERRINE WITH BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE SAUCE AND RASPBERRY-FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Line 9 x 5 x 2 3/4-inch metal loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving overhang. Pour 1 tablespoon cold water into small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over. Let stand until gelatin softens, about 10 minutes. Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water (do not allow bottom of pan to touch water) until melted. Remove chocolate from over water.
• Whisk egg yolks, 2 tablespoons honey, Grand Marnier and 3 tablespoons water in large metal bowl to blend. Set over saucepan of gently boiling water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) and whisk until mixture thickens and thermometer registers 160°F, about 3 minutes. Remove bowl from over water; add gelatin mixture and whisk until dissolved.
• Stir remaining 1 tablespoon water and 4 tablespoons honey in small pan over low heat until honey dissolves. Increase heat and boil until candy thermometer reaches 220°F, tilting pan to submerge thermometer bulb, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat hot honey syrup into whites. Continue beating until whites are cool and very stiff, about 4 minutes. Fold white chocolate into yolk mixture; then fold whites into yolk mixture in 3 additions. Beat cream and vanilla in medium bowl until medium-firm peaks form. Fold cream and nuts into mousse. Transfer mixture to prepared pan; smooth top. Cover with plastic; freeze overnight. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep frozen.)
• Freeze oval platter 15 minutes. Uncover terrine. Place platter on pan. Invert terrine onto platter; peel off plastic. Spoon chocolate sauce onto center of plates. Slice terrine; place atop sauce. Spoon Raspberry-Fig Sauce over center of terrine slices and serve immediately.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine cream, honey, brandy and salt in medium saucepan. Stir over high heat until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted. Whisk in vanilla. Let stand until cool but still pourable. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Before serving, stir over low heat until just liquid but not warm.)

RASPBERRY-FIG SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine first 4 ingredients in heavy small saucepan. Stir over low heat until honey dissolves. Increase heat to medium and simmer until figs are tender and liquid is reduced to thick syrup, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes. Add raspberries and simmer until thickened to sauce consistency, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

FROZEN NOUGAT AND CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• 1. Use a sturdy chopping knife to cut the nougat into small pieces, then grind it to a granular consistency in the food processor.
• 2. Separate the eggs, keeping only four of the whites.
• 3. Pour the yolks into a mixing bowl, adding all the sugar. Whip them until they form a foamy mass.
• 4. In another bowl, preferably a chilled steel one, whip the cream until it is quite stiff.
• 5. Add the whipped cream, the chocolate bits, the rum, and 1 1/4 cup of the ground nougat to the beaten egg yolks, mixing well to distribute all the ingredients uniformly.
• 6. In a clean bowl, whip the four reserved egg whites together with a pinch of salt until they form stiff peaks. Fold them gently into the egg yolk, cream, chocolate, and nougat batter.
• 7. Sprinkle the remaining pulverized nougat on the inside of the 2-quart bowl and over it pour the dessert's batter. Pull a sheet of plastic film tightly over the bowl and place it in the freezer. It is ready to be served the following day, but it will keep, as I have done, a full week.
• 8. When ready to serve, take the bowl from the freezer and remove the plastic film. Choose a plate with a lip whose inner diameter fits comfortably over the opening of the bowl. Soak a dishtowel in very hot water and wrap it around the bowl. Slide the blade of a long, thin knife inside the bowl to loosen the dessert from its sides. Set the plate upside down over the bowl, hold the bowl and plate firmly together, and give them a good shake. You will feel the dessert come away from the bowl and drop onto the serving plate.