Port Wine Reduction Food

SHALLOT & RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Sauté 250g sliced shallots in a medium saucepan with 4 tbsp olive oil over a high heat for about 3 mins until lightly browned, stirring often.
• Season with ground black pepper and add 1 lightly crushed garlic clove and a sprig of rosemary.
• Continue cooking for a further 3 mins, stirring often to prevent the shallots burning.
• Pour in 5 tbsp balsamic vinegar and cook until evaporated away to a syrup, then pour in 400ml red wine and cook until reduced by two thirds.
• Pour in 400ml beef or brown chicken stock and bring to the boil.
• Turn down the heat and simmer until reduced by two-thirds again, to around 250ml. Remove the garlic and rosemary.
• Add a little salt to taste and finally 'monte' (whisk) in a knob of butter. Add any juices from the steaks just before serving.

STANDING OVATION: SWEET CHOCOLATE PORT CUPCAKES, PORT WINE REDUCTION SYRUP, RASPBERRY CREME FRAICHE FILLING, FRENCH CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line cupcake tins with 24 cupcake liners.
• Whisk together the buttermilk, oil, vanilla and eggs. Combine the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt and add into the wet mixture. Whisk the batter together until almost all the lumps are gone. Scrape the bowl, then mix again briefly. Add in a small amount of the port wine to help thin the batter. Once it is incorporated, slowly add in the remaining wine, whisking continuously. Scrape the bottom of the bowl and make sure that there are no lumps. Scoop into the prepared cupcake liners using a number 16 scoop. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
• To assemble: Allow the cupcakes to fully cool. Using an apple corer, remove a piece of the cupcake from the center. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon Port Wine Reduction Syrup. Fill the cupcake with 1 teaspoon Raspberry Creme Fraiche Filling. Using a large star tip, pipe the chilled French Chocolate Mousse onto the cupcake. Garnish with the gold leaf flake.
• Combine the wine, sugar and salt in a saucepan over a low flame. Simmer until reduced to 3 1/2 ounces liquid.;
• Place the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan containing barely simmering water (or use a double boiler). Melt the chocolate and butter together and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Add the egg yolks to the chocolate, 1 by 1, beating with a whisk until incorporated. Set aside.
• In another bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
• Beat the heavy cream in a chilled bowl until it begins to foam and thicken up. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and the vanilla. Continue to whip the cream until it holds soft peaks.
• Gradually and gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Then, delicately fold in the whipped cream. Take care not over work the mousse.
• Whisk the creme fraiche with the raspberry preserves to combine.

BEEF TENDERLOIN STEAKS WITH PORT-ROSEMARY SAUCE

Steps:

• FOR SAUCE:
• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in wine and Port. Boil 5 minutes. Add broth and rosemary sprig and boil until liquid is reduced to 1/3 cup, about 12 minutes. Strain sauce and set aside. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• FOR STEAKS:
• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Season steaks with salt and pepper. Add steaks to skillet and cook to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to platter. Tent with foil to keep warm.
• Add sauce to skillet and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Remove from heat. Gradually add butter, whisking just until melted. Stir in chopped rosemary. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon sauce over steaks and serve.

PORT WINE SAUCE (FOR FILET MIGNON OR PRIME RIB)

Steps:

• First, make the reduction. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the diced shallot and cook untile softened, about five minutes. Then, add all of the port (yes, a whole bottle!), and the thyme sprigs, and bring to a boil over high heat. Watch for the boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a brisk simmer. Cook until the port has reduced to the consistency of corn syrup, about 30 minutes. You should have about 1/2 cup or so including the diced shallot. At the same time, bring the chicken broth to a simmer in a small saucepan. Once it's brought a simmer, turn off the heat, and add the package of porcini mushrooms. Here, you're creating a mushroom-enriched stock that will add a nice earthy base to the sauce. Let the mushrooms soak for 15-20 minutes. with a straining or slotted spoon, lift the porcini to a small bowl. Strain the sooaking liquid through a coffee filter, paper towel or cheesecloth to remove any dirt sediment that came from the porcini mushrooms. Save the stock -- that's what you're going to use in the next step. Add the enriched chicken stock and half of the porcini mushrooms (diced) to the port reduction. (You can use the other half of the porcini mushrooms in a beef or mushroom-cap stuffing.) Bring the sauce to a boil over high heat, then reduce to maintain a brisk simmer. Cook until it's reduced to about 1 1/3 cups, which is about 15 minutes. Strain again through a fine strainer, pressing on the solid mushrooms and shallots. Add salt and pepper to taste. You should have a little over 1 cup of the sauce. The sauce can be refrigerated at this point and held for up to 2 days, if you seal it carefully with plastic wrap. Twenty minutes before plating your dinner, bring the sauce back to a low simmer, stir. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and butter into a paste, then WHISK rapidly into the simmering sauce to thicken it. You'll need to whisk for 2 minutes or so to give the sauce a single consistency. Raise the temperature to a simmer, and maintain that while whisking for 2-3 minutes to remove any flour flavor. Add a teaspoon or so of fine balsamic vinegar, and taste a few times. You're done! Serving options: Can be plated first, with filet mignon beef medalions on top, or poured over steak.

SIMPLE PORT WINE REDUCTION

Steps:

• Combine all of the ingredients in a medium-size saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil.
• Continue to boil the mixture until it thickens and reduces to about ½ cup, about 45 minutes.
• Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and let cool.
• Use at room temperature. Makes ½ cup.

PORT WINE REDUCTION

Steps:

• Add all items except Roux and Butter into a sauce pan, cover and heat over medium heat for approximately 45 minutes.
• Remove vegetables and continue cooking uncovered untill liquid reduces to about a quarter of the volume.
• Mix in a small amount of Roux to slightly thicken sauce, lightly boil for a couple of minutes (should just thinly coat back of spoon).
• Lower heat and add butter to finish sauce (do not let sauce boil after adding the butter).
• Enjoy.

PORTUGUESE SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Start by patting dry your scallops with paper towel to remove any water excess. Season scallops with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a frying pan over high heat until hot.
• Add half of scallops and cook for 2 minutes on each side or until browned.
• Remove scallops from pan and keep warm. Repeat procedure with the remaining scallops.
• Once your second batch of scallops is out of the pan, stir in port wine and lemon juice, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
• Add back scallops, add parsley and garlic and sauté for 30 seconds over high heat.

PAN-SEARED WILD DUCK BREAST WITH PORT WINE REDUCTION

Steps:

• Schneider's recipe calls for a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder because she started with whole peppercorns and allspice berries. I simply stir my salt, freshly ground pepper, sugar, zest and thyme in a small bowl. It works just fine. The mixture should look like sand.
• Place the duck breasts on a platter and rub the spice mixture into them. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. About 20 minutes before cooking, remove the duck breasts from the refrigerator and return to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Pat dry with paper towels. With a paring knife, remove the tenderloin, the thin strip of meat that runs lengthwise down the underside of each breast.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. When the pan is hot - it doesn't have to be smoking - put the duck breasts in fat side down. Let the breasts sizzle for about a minute (or longer if your kitchen isn't getting too smoky) or a minute and a half, then place the pan in the oven. After two and half minutes total have passed, open the oven, flip the breasts over, close the oven and cook for another two to two and a half minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, transfer the breasts to a platter, and let rest for five minutes. Turn your oven off.
• While the breasts are resting, finish reducing the sauce. (See my notes below with the sauce recipe - I make the sauce a day in advance, and then heat as much as I think we need for the two of us while the breasts are resting.) Place your sauce in a small sauce pan or frying pan and heat over medium-high heat. In no time, the sauce should start to thicken up, at which point you should remove the pan from the stovetop. Slice the breasts, if desired, and pour your beautiful sauce over top. (Or, don't slice the breasts, just pour the sauce over top.)

PORT WINE BALSAMIC FILET MIGNON

Steps:

• Bring the port and white wine to a boil in a medium saucepan, lower the heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced to 2/3 cup.
• Sprinkle the steaks with salt and pepper and lightly dust with flour on both sides. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter. When the oil is hot, add the steaks to the skillet and top them with a few sprigs of thyme (just to get the essence). Cook for 4 minutes per side, or until they are cooked to your liking (see Cook's Note).
• Remove the steaks from the pan and set them aside on a plate to rest. Remove the thyme and discard. Add the wine reduction to the same skillet (do not clean the skillet) and bring to a simmer over medium heat, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits.
• Add the balsamic vinegar and simmer until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon, 2 to 5 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons unsalted butter until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the steak and garnish with microgreens.
• For the grilled asparagus: Toss the asparagus with 3 tablespoons olive oil, the juice from 1/2 a lemon and some salt and pepper. Heat a cast-iron grill pan over medium heat. When the pan is hot, grill the asparagus, turning occasionally, until it is tender and lightly charred, about 4 minutes. Season with more salt and a squeeze of lemon. Serve with the steak.

STEAK WITH PORT WINE BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Steps:

• Heat bits of trimmed fat in heavy pan over medium high heat.
• Add shallot and sautee.
• Remove shallot from pan and set aside.
• Heat pan over high heat until very hot.
• Sear steak until dark brown on both sides. This should be enough for medium rare, but if not, or a higher temperature is desired, put in oven at 400 degrees until the desired internal temperature is reached.
• Remove steak from pan.
• Add half of the port to the pan, and bring to a boil. Let boil for 5 seconds, and then use a spatula to scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Add sauteed shallot, the rest of the port and the balsamic vinegar to the pan, and reduce sauce to desired consistency.
• Slice steak and serve with reduction sauce.
• Note: Recommend cast iron pan for this recipe as it maintains heat even when the steak is added, making for a good quick sear.

PORT-WINE POT ROAST

Steps:

• Trim fat from pot roast.
• If necessary, cut roast to fit into a 3 1/2 or 4 quart slow cooker.
• Place meat in slow cooker.
• In a small bowl, combine all other ingredients.
• Cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours or High for 4 to 5 hours.
• Place beef on warm platter.
• Cover with aluminum foil and place in preheat 200 degree oven to keep warm while preparing gravy.
• Skim fat from gravy.
• If you want to thicken it, add 2 Tablespoons of water and cornstarch together; blend well.
• Turn crockpot to high and add cornstarch mixture.
• Serve over sliced beef.

RED-WINE REDUCTION

Steps:

• Sauté onion, celery, carrots, and garlic in oil in a 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden, about 10 minutes. Add wines and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture is reduced to 1 quart, about 1 hour.
• Pour through a sieve into a saucepan and simmer until reduced to 2 cups. Reheat reduction and season with salt and pepper before using.

PORT WINE REDUCTION

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Continue to boil until thickened and reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve; let cool to room temperature before serving.

PORK TENDERLOIN WITH PORT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium, heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat.
• Pat pork dry, and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook pork in oil until brown, about 4 minutes or until cooked to desired doneness.
• Transfer to a warm platter; set aside.
• Remove skillet from heat.
• Discard fat, and add port; return skillet to heat.
• Deglaze pan, scraping with a wooden spoon to loosen the browned bits from the bottom.
• Continue cooking until sauce is reduced to about 2 tablespoons.
• Add stock, and cook until sauce is lightly syrupy, about 4 minutes.
• Whisk in butter, a little at a time, gently shaking pan while whisking.
• Stir in vinegar.
• Taste, and adjust for seasoning.
• Spoon sauce over pork, and serve immediately.

BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH PORT-BALSAMIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Boil Port and wine in heavy small saucepan until mixture is reduced to 2/3 cup, about 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper. Dust with flour; shake off excess. Melt 1 tablespoon butter with oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add steaks; cook to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to platter (do not clean skillet); tent steaks with foil to keep warm.
• Add Port mixture and vinegar to same skillet and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Boil until reduced to sauce consistency, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and whisk just until melted. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer steaks to plates. Spoon sauce over and serve.

BLUE CHEESE FOAM WITH PORT WINE REDUCTION

Steps:

• Put the port wine in a medium-sized saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 25 minutes or until the wine is reduced to a syrup. Remove from the heat and allow the reduction to cool. Transfer to a covered container or squeeze bottle and refrigerate until needed.
• Pour the cream into a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. As soon as the cream boils, remove from the heat.
• Add the blue cheese and using a handheld immersion blender, puree until smooth. Alternatively, transfer the cream and cheese to a food processor and process until smooth. Strain through a chinois or fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper and set aside to cool at room temperature.
• Pour the blue cheese mixture into the chilled canister of a foamer. The amount will fill it halfway. Charge it with 1 or 2 charges. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
• To serve, shake the foamer vigorously and place a little blue cheese foam on a small plate. Garnish with a drizzle of port wine reduction. If it's too thick to drizzle, let the reduction come to room temperature. Repeat to make 5 to 7 more servings.