Kaitafi Fruit Napoleon Recipes

HAWAIIAN NAPOLEON

Steps:

• For the pasta sheets: Preheat oil to 350 degrees F. Deep-fry the pasta until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle the top with sugar while still hot so the sugar sticks.
• For the chocolate sauce: Heat the heavy cream over medium-high heat so it comes to a simmer. Add the chocolate; remove from the heat and cover. After 10 minutes, whisk until smooth.
• For the coconut caramel: Place the sugar in a heavy-bottomed saucepan with 1 tablespoon water. Heat over medium heat, swirling the pan without using a spoon or whisk, and cook until golden. Add the coconut milk and cook on medium-high, whisking until smooth.
• For the pineapple mascarpone: Saute the pineapple in the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the vanilla, remove from the heat and cool for 5 minutes.
• Whip the mascarpone with the sugar until light and fluffy. Fold in the sauteed pineapple.
• To assemble: Top 1 pasta square with 3 tablespoons pineapple mascarpone and
• top with another pasta square. Drizzle the top with coconut caramel and chocolate sauce. Sprinkle the plate with lava salt/sugar mixture.

ROASTED BEET NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the beets in a small roasting pan and pour in enough cold water to reach about 1/4 of the way up the sides of the beets. Cover the pan with foil, and roast the beets until they are tender, 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes. To check for doneness, gently insert a bamboo skewer into a beet. The skewer should slide through easily. Remove the beets from the pan, allow to cool, and then peel.
• Cut each beet into 1/4-inch-thick round slices. Cut each slice with a 3-inch round cookie cutter. (You will need 10 rounds). Cut trimmings into 1/4-inch dice and reserve 1/2 cup for garnish.
• In a saute pan, bring vinegar and sugar to a boil. Lower to a simmer and poach beets 1 minute on each side. With a slotted spatula, remove and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
• When ready to assemble, heat the olive oil in a small saute pan. Arrange the slices of Herbed Goat Cheese in the pan and warm slightly, turning them with a small spatula just to warm both sides. This has to be done quickly, or the cheese will melt.
• To assemble the napoleons, place 1 of the beet rounds on a firm, flat surface and begin to layer. Top with a slice of goat cheese, then another beet round, a second slice of cheese, another beet round, a third slice of cheese, and a beet round. (Continue until you have 5 layers of beets and 4 layers of cheese.) Carefully cut through layers, dividing into 3 wedges. Repeat with the remaining beets and cheese.
• To serve, arrange 3 of the wedges, pointed ends facing out, in a circle in the center of each plate. Toss the baby lettuces with the Spago House Dressing and mound half of the lettuces on top of each arranged napoleon. Drizzle 1/2 of the Citrus Hazelnut Vinaigrette around each mound. Sprinkle toasted nuts and reserved diced beets on top of drizzled vinaigrette. Serve immediately.
• Combine the parsley, chives, thyme, and pepper and place on a flat surface. Roll the log of cheese in the mixture, coating all sides and retaining the shape of the log. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
• Yield: 1 (7 or 8-ounce) log
• In a small bowl, whisk together the shallots and the mustard. Whisk in the vinegars and then the olive and vegetable oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate until needed.
• Yield: 1 1/4 cups
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Adventures in the Kitchen," Random House, 1991
• In a medium saucepan, bring orange juice to a boil. Lower to a simmer and reduce until only 1/3 cup remains. Cool to room temperature.
• In a medium bowl, combine orange juice, shallot, thyme, vinegar and orange zest.
• Slowly whisk in both oils until thick and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until needed.
• Yield: 1 1/3 cups
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the hazelnuts on a medium baking tray and toast for 10 to 12 minutes, turning after 5 minutes. (This can be done in a toaster oven). Remove to a clean towel and rub to remove as much of the skin as possible. Chop coarsely and use when needed.
• Yield: 1 cup
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, 2000
• Recipe courtesy of Wolfgang Puck, 2001

LEMON CREAM NAPOLEON

Steps:

• In a food processor fitted with a steel blade, combine ricotta, lemon pudding and sour cream. Process until smooth. Add lemon zest and process for 1 minute. Mix until pudding consistency.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with kitchen parchment.
• In a small bowl, combine honey and warm water. Stir until honey dissolves. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush wrappers on both sides with honey water. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for approximately 8 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven, let cool.
• To serve, place one wrapper on a plate and spoon a dollop of pudding mixture. Repeat with another layer. Mix 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the whipped topping. Top third wrapper with a dollop of whipped topping. Garnish with a sprinkle of lemon zest.

PEAR PECAN NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Pears: Place the pears, sugar, lemon juice, salt, and cinnamon in a large saute pan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the pears are soft and most of the liquid has evaporated, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool.
• Pecan Paste: In a food processor, finely grind the pecans and granulated sugar. Place the pecan mixture in a small bowl and add the water, orange zest, and salt. Mix just until combined.
• Puff Pastry: On a lightly floured work surface, roll the piece of puff pastry into a 16-inch square. Cut into 4 rectangles, each 4 inches wide by 16 inches long. With a fork, pierce small holes all over the pastry. Place the rectangles on two baking sheets. Freeze or refrigerate until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Place a second baking sheet or an inverted wire mesh rack on top of the puff pastry to prevent it from rising as it bakes. Bake until golden brown, 10-15 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• Assembly: Spread 1/3 of the pecan paste on one of the rectangles of puff pastry. Carefully layer 1/3 of the pears over the pecan paste. Layer two more pieces of pastry with the remaining pecan paste and pears in the same manner. Using a wide metal spatula, carefully stack these three pieces of pastry.
• In a small bowl mix together the sugar and the cinnamon. Dust the fourth piece of puff pastry with the cinnamon sugar and place it on top of the stacked layers of pastry.Using a serrated knife and a gentle sawing motion, trim the edges of the napoleon so that they are even. In the same manner, cut the napoleon into 8 pieces and serve a portion on each of 8 plates.

PORTOBELLO NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Slice the portobellos into 3 pieces each, grill and keep warm. Heat garlic in 1-ounce olive oil. Add beans and season with salt and pepper. In a separate pan, heat the olive oil and saute the chard. Season and grill the tomatoes, reserve warm. Set rice in the center of the plate. Top with mushroom, red tomato, chard, portobello, yellow tomato, chard, portobello. Surround with the beans and top with Parmesan.