Hummersuffle Swedish Lobster Soufflé Food

LOBSTER SOUFFLE

Steps:

• For the lobsters: Place the lobsters into a large stainless-steel pot and add about 4 cups of water. Cover, and bring to a strong boil, which may take nearly 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, and continue boiling gently, still covered, for about 5 minutes. Set aside, covered, for 30 to 45 minutes, until the lobsters in the pot are cool enough to handle. Retain the broth for use in the sauce. Break off the tails and claws from each of the lobsters, and crack the shells, taking care to retain any liquid released and add it to the broth. Remove all the meat, split the tail in half lengthwise, and remove and discard the intestinal tract. Cut each half tail into 3 or 4 pieces, and halve the claw meat. Arrange all the meat in a gratin dish lined with plastic wrap. Set aside. The recipe can be prepared ahead to this point and refrigerated. Reserve the shells for the sauce.
• For the Americaine sauce: Heat the olive oil in a very large saucepan. Cut the lobster bodies open, and remove and reserve any liquid tomalley or row in a bowl. Cut each body into 4 or 5 pieces and add to the pan along with the shells from the tails and claws. Saute over high heat for 10 to 12 minutes, until the shells begin to brown and become crusty, and most of the moisture has evaporated. Add 2 tablespoons cognac to the pan and carefully light it to flambe the shells. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook with the shells for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the tomato, thyme, tarragon, bay leaves, tomato paste, wine, and reserved lobster broth. Bring to a boil and boil gently for 40 to 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Strain the mixture through a colander set over a bowl, and shake the colander to get out as much juice as possible. Strain the juice again through a very fine strainer. Pour the liquid into a saucepan and reduce it to about 3 cups. Mix the potato starch (or arrowroot or cornstarch) with the water and stir it into the boiling reduced liquid. Return it to a boil and stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream, remaining 2 teaspoons cognac, and salt and pepper to taste. The sauce is now ready. Break cold butter into pieces and distribute them on top of the sauce. When the butter has melted, spread it lightly over the surface of the sauce with the tines of a fork. This will prevent the sauce from forming a skin or discoloring. The butter will be stirred into the sauce at serving time.
• Prepare the lobster:
• When you are ready to complete the recipe, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Unwrap the plastic wrap from the reserved lobster and pour the butter gently over the meat. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle on the tarragon. Bring the plastic wrap back over the lobster meat so the meat is held tightly together and can soak up the butter.
• For the souffle: Make the bechamel sauce by melting 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan and cooking until it is light brown in color to give some intensity to the sauce. Add the flour and mix well. Stir in the milk and season with salt and pepper. Mix well with a whisk, bring to a boil, and boil for about 30 seconds. Continue whisking while adding 4 egg yolks to the hot bechamel and stir well to incorporate. (Reserve the remaining 2 egg yolks for another recipe.)
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly butter a 6 or 7-cup gratin dish and sprinkle with 2 to 3 tablespoon of the grated Parmesan, tilting the dish so the cheese sticks to the butter and coats the bottom and sides. Tap out and reserve any excess cheese for use on top of the souffle. Beat the 6 egg whites until firm but not dry. Add about 1/3 of the egg whites to the bechamel and mix with a whisk to incorporate. Add the remaining whites and the Gruyere and fold in with a rubber spatula. It is important to work quickly so the beaten egg white gets incorporated into the mixture without getting grainy. Pour into the prepared dish and sprinkle on the remaining Parmesan. Place in the center of the oven and bake for about 35 minutes, or until golden, crusty, and brown.
• While the souffle bakes, place the lobster meat into a 170 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or just until warmed through, leaving it in the plastic wrap. The lobster should be warm but not hot. If heated too fast or at too high a temperature, it toughens. Just before serving, heat 6 soup plates in the oven.
• Divide the lobster meat among the warm soup plates, bring the sauce to a boil, and spoon it over the lobster meat in each plate. Spread the meat to create a little space in the center of each plate. Spoon about 1 cup of the souffle, along with some of the crust, into the middle of each plate. Garnish with truffle slices, if using.

HUMMERSUFFLE - SWEDISH LOBSTER SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Melt butter and blend in flour. Add cream gradually, stirring constantly. Cook till mixture is smooth and thick, remove from heat and allow sauce to cool.
• Beat in egg yolks 1 at a time. Add salt and pepper. Fold lobster and dill into mixture and set aside.
• Beat egg whites till stiff (but not dry) and fold into lobster mixture.
• Butter a 2-quart soufflé dish and coat it w/fine dry bread crumbs (bread crumbs are optional, but they are used in Sweden).
• Pour soufflé mixture into dish & bake about 30-40 minutes or till puffed and golden. Serve immediately (serve with steamed potatoes and butter or hollandaise).
• NOTE ON RECIPE: "Though the quantities of the soufflé can be doubled, it is far better to make 2 smaller soufflés rather than 1 large one. Smaller soufflés bake better.".

GUSSTORTE (SWISS ALMOND & FRUIT PASTRY)

Steps:

• Cook the dried fruit by simmering in a saucepan of water until softened enough to mash.
• Drain well and allow to cool slightly before processing in a food processor to a thick, chunky pulp.
• Have this done in advance and at room temperature when ready to fill pastry.
• Set flour for the pastry dough in a bowl and using two forks or a pastry blender, cut in the butter pieces until the mixture resembles small pebbles.
• Add water a little at a time, mixing until the dough starts to form up a ball.
• Gather into a ball with your hands gently and knead on a very lightly floured surface just enough to make a smooth ball of dough- do not overwork the dough.
• Cover in plastic and chill while preparing filling.
• If you prefer, you may substitute a premade refrigerated pastry dough.
• Beat the eggs until they are thick and lemony.
• Beat in the granulated sugar 1 Tbsp at a time.
• Fold in the nuts.
• Roll out pastry dough on a lightly floured surface and cut to fit into the bottom of a 9-inch well greased springform pan.
• Spread the cooled mashed fruit over the dough and then pour the nut mixture over the fruit.
• Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the eggy filling is set.
• Chill, then remove sides of pan carefully, slice and serve.
• Store in the refrigerator.

DROMTARTA - SWEDISH CHOCOLATE DREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cake:.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
• Combine eggs, water and vanilla and beat until thick and lemon-colored. Add granulated sugar gradually (1 tbsp at a time) and beat thoroughly after each addition.
• Slowly sift flour mixture into egg mixture and fold in carefully, but thoroughly.
• Grease a 15x10 in jelly-roll pan and line w/waxed paper. Spread batter evenly in pan and bake 30 minutes or till cake tests done. Touch cake lightly w/fingertip. If the dough springs back quickly, the cake is done.
• Sprinkle a kitchen towel heavily with confectioner's sugar . Turn cake onto kitchen towel and peel off waxed paper. Trim off any crisp edges. Roll warm cake lengthwise in towel into a roll. Cool on rack, seam side down.
• Filling - Cream butter with egg yolk and cocoa. Beat in sugar gradually, alternating w/rum. Keep at room temp for spreading.
• Cake Assembly - Unroll cake and spread with filling. Reroll and refrigerate till serving time.

ARTICHOKE SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter. Cook the artichokes in the oil and butter, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes.
• Add onion, garlic, tomatoes, bay leaf, basil, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer covered, stirring occasionally, until the artichokes are tender.
• Makes enough sauce for about 1 pound of spaghetti.

GULE AERTER (YELLOW PEA SOUP)

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and simmer for 1 hour.
• Serve.

SLOTTSSTEK (SWEDISH ROYAL POT ROAST)

Steps:

• Rub meat with salt, allspice and pepper.
• Saute in butter until brown on all sides.
• Pour in brandy and ignite.
• Add beef broth, onions, bay leaves, vinegar and molasses.
• Stir well, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.
• Slice beef, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

TRADITIONAL SWISS CARROT CAKE (AARGAUER RUEBLI TORTE)

Steps:

• Combine carrots and nuts in a mixing bowl.
• In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs with the spices and baking powder, then blend into the carrot mixture.
• Beat the egg yolks until thick and lemony.
• Gradually beat the granulated sugar into the yolks, along with the lemon rind and the Kirsch (more authentic) or lemon juice (if you don't like to use alcohol in your cooking).
• Beat this mixture until thick, then stir into the carrot mixture.
• Beat egg whites in a clean bowl until stiff peaks form, then fold them gently into the carrot mixture- do not overmix.
• Line an 8" springform pan with waxed paper or parchment.
• Grease pan (including the paper lining) and dust with a very light sprinkling of fine dry breadcrumbs.
• Shake pan to make sure breadcrumbs coat evenly.
• Pour batter into the pan and bake in a preheated moderate oven at 350 F for 1 hour, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
• Let cool.
• Mix together glaze ingredients.
• Remove sides from pan and set cake on a wire rack that has been set over wax paper to catch the drips.
• Spoon the glaze over the top of the cake and sides, using a spatula to even out the glaze as you prefer.
• Garnish with some candied fruits, if desired.
• Store in a tightly covered cake box.
• This cake improves with age.

LOBSTER SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring the chicken broth and water to a boil.
• Chop up the lobster meat into small pieces and add it to the boiling liquid.
• Cover, turn down the heat and let simmer.
• In a skillet, heat a tbl of the olive oil and add celery, onion and garlic.
• Saute over medium heat, taking care not to brown.
• Add the tomatoes, wine and basil and saute for another 5-10 min.
• Add this to the lobster mixture and continue to simmer the soup for 30 minutes covered, over very low heat.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and mix in the remaining olive oil, then the flour.
• Whisk in the milk gradually, stirring continuously.
• When it begins to thicken (just when it begins, not when it gets real thick) stir this mixture gradually into the simmering soup.
• Be sure the soup does not boil after this point but is stirred and simmered over very low heat.
• Remove half of the soup and blend it in a high-speed blender until smooth.
• Half of the soup should retain flakes of the tender lobster meat and chopped vegetables.
• Mix in the blended soup with the lobster mixture.
• Season with salt& pepper.
• Serve this soup with fresh Italian bread.