Jean Georgess Currant Cumin Potato Cakes Recipes

JEAN-GEORGES'S BONELESS LAMB WITH MUSHROOM CRUST AND LEEK PUREE

Steps:

• Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add leeks, and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain, and transfer to a blender. Add butter; season with salt and pepper, and puree. Transfer to a warm place.
• Place dried mushrooms in a spice mill or coffee grinder; grind to the consistency of coffee. Transfer to a plate.
• Place egg in a bowl; add some salt and pepper, and beat lightly. Place flour on a plate. Dip lamb very lightly in flour; shake off excess. Dip into egg, then into mushrooms. Pat mushrooms to adhere so they coat the lamb heavily. Refrigerate up to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 10-inch skillet; add the shiitake mushrooms, garlic, and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in an ovenproof skillet set over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the lamb; cook 2 minutes on one side, then turn. Place the skillet in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes for rare meat, a little longer for more well-done.
• Let the lamb rest 1 minute, then cut it into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place a dollop of leek puree on each plate, top with a portion of mushrooms, then place the lamb on top. Sprinkle with a little coarse salt, and serve.

JEAN-GEORGES'S CHICKPEA FRIES

Steps:

• Bring milk to a boil in a large saucepan with butter, salt, cayenne, and white pepper. Slowly add flour, whisking constantly and vigorously until the mixture begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 5 minutes.
• Cover an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet with plastic wrap. Pour mixture onto three quarters of the prepared baking sheet, spreading evenly with an offset spatula. Cover with plastic wrap, and transfer to refrigerator to chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• In a large, deep pot, heat 4 inches of oil until it reaches 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap, and cut dough crosswise into 3-inch strips. Cut strips crosswise into 1/2-inch fries. Transfer fries to heated oil, and fry in batches until golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from oil, and season with salt and cayenne pepper. Repeat with remaining fries. Serve immediately.

JEAN-GEORGES'S WARM CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Butter eight 4-ounce ramekins or sixteen 2-ounce molds and dust them lightly with flour. Set the ramekins on a baking sheet.
• Put the butter and chocolate in a glass bowl and melt in the microwave, using 30-second bursts. Stir until smooth.
• Put the egg yolks and eggs in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk. Beat at medium speed until frothy. Pour in the sugar and increase the speed to medium-high. Continue to beat until the eggs have tripled in volume.
• Scrape the butter and chocolate into the eggs. Beat until well mixed, scraping the bowl once or twice. Sift the flour over the batter and fold it in gently.
• Put the batter in a pastry bag and pipe into the ramekins. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you're ready to serve the dessert or for up to 8 hours.
• Take the cakes out of the refrigerator to bring them to room temperature. Heat the oven to 475°F or 450°F on convection.
• Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake the cakes until the sides and tops are set, about 4 minutes for small cakes or 6 to 7 minutes for large ones. The centers will still be very soft.
• Invert the ramekins onto dessert plates. Leave for about 10 seconds, then lift off the ramekins. Spoon a little chocolate sauce around each cake. Make a small pile of chocolate crumble to the side, and top with a scoop of ice cream. Garnish the ice cream with crystallized vanilla and the cake with confectioners' sugar, if you want. Serve immediately.