Anchovy Puffs Gourmet 1994 Food

ANCHOVY PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 230C. Pound anchovy fillets with a mortar and pestle to a coarse paste and set aside.
• Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to 36cm square. Spread with anchovy paste, sprinkle with thyme, then cut in half. Cover and refrigerate one piece and cut the other half into six 15cm x 6cm rectangles. Roll up each rectangle lengthways to form a cylinder, brush edges with water and seal. Cut in half and place cut-side down on a baking tray lined with baking paper, pressing lightly to flatten. Cover and refrigerate. Repeat with remaining pastry, then bake both batches until puffs are puffed and starting to turn golden (5-10 minutes), then reduce heat to 170C and bake until golden and crisp (5-10 minutes). Set aside to cool slightly, then serve with basil leaves and goat's curd.

ANCHOVY PUFFS

Steps:

• In a small bowl with a fork mash anchovies with mayonnaise. On a lightly floured surface roll out both sheets of pastry into 14-inch squares and trim edges to form 13-inch squares. Brush off excess flour and spread anchovy mayonnaise evenly over 1 pastry sheet. Cover with remaining pastry sheet and press sheets together gently.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• With a 3- to 4-inch decorative cutter, such as a fish, cut pastry into shapes. Reserve scraps and cut into bite-size pieces to bake separately. (To eliminate scraps forego decorative shapes altogether and simply cut pastry into squares.)
• Arrange pastries on lightly greased baking sheets and brush tops with egg wash. With the edge of a cookie cutter or the back of a sharp knife score fish. Bake pastries in oven until puffed and golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

ANCHOVY PALMIERS

Steps:

• Roll out the pastry to a 24 x 26cm rectangle. Brush with a little egg and place 4 spaced-out rows of anchovies over the pastry, parallel to the longest sides. Sprinkle the Parmesan between the rows.
• Roll up the pastry from each long side to meet in the middle, brushing with a little egg to help it stick. Using a very sharp knife, cut into thin slices. Place slices a little apart on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Chill for at least 30 mins, or cover with cling film and chill for up to 24 hrs.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake for 12-15 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden.