Smoked Trout Horseradish Asparagus Vol Au Vent Filling Food

SMOKED TROUT DIP

Steps:

• Discard the head, and skin and flake the trout fillets. Puree the cream cheese, sour cream, and horseradish in a mini food processor. Add the fish and pulse to a make a smooth dip. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the onion and parsley, and the lemon juice, to taste. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Serve with celery or endive leaves.

SMOKED TROUT & HORSERADISH PâTé

Steps:

• Put the cream cheese, horseradish, and lemon zest and juice in a bowl, and mix together until smooth. Season.
• Add the chopped dill and flake in the smoked trout, removing any bones or skin as you go. Stir well to combine and add more seasoning to taste. The pâté will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. Serve garnished with dill fronds and sprinkled with cracked black pepper. Eat with rye bread and lettuce leaves.

CHICKEN AND ASPARAGUS VOL-AU-VENTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan forced).
• Line a baking tray with baking paper and place vol-au-vent cases on prepared tray and bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until crisp and then place vol-au-vents on serving plates.
• Meanwhile heat oil in medium frying pan over moderate heat and add onion and garlic and cook and stir for 2 minutes or until softened and then add chicken, cook and stir for 3 to 4 minutes or until browned.
• Whisk mustard, cream and cornflour in a small jug until smooth.
• Add to pan, cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes or until sauce boils and thickens.
• Add asparagus to chicken mix.
• Remove from heat and season and then spoon chicken mix into vol-au-vent cases and sprinkle with chives and serve with salad.

FETTUCCINE, SMOKED TROUT AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Snap the ends off the asparagus where they break naturally. Peel the spears. Cut the asparagus in one-inch lengths.
• Place the asparagus in a steamer or a pot of simmering water and steam or cook about three minutes, until they are just tender and still bright green. Refresh the asparagus under cold running water. Dry them well.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the shallots and saute over low heat until soft but not brown, about three minutes. Stir in the cream and simmer about five minutes, until the mixture starts to thicken. Add the trout and the asparagus. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the lemon juice.
• When the water is boiling, add the fettuccine and boil about three minutes. Drain well and transfer to a warm serving dish. Reheat the contents of the skillet and pour over the fettuccine. Toss well. Scatter the dill on top and serve.

PARTY VOL-AU-VENTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut into 30 x 6cm squares, trimming any edges. Score a smaller square inside each one, leaving a 7.5mm border, taking care not to cut the pastry all the way through.
• Put the squares on the tray, lightly brush with egg glaze and bake for 15 mins until puffed up and golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. When cool, carefully remove and discard the central piece of pastry from each one. To serve, fill with the fillings (see 'goes well with'). The vol-au-vent cases can be kept in an airtight container for up to a day before filling and serving.