Strawberry And Rhubarb Compotes With Sugared Almonds Food

STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Combine chopped strawberries and rhubarb in a saucepan. Add sugar and salt; stir to coat evenly. Let sit until fruit has released its juices, about 10 minutes.
• Bring fruit mixture to a light boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until fruit is soft and mixture has thickened, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, about 30 minutes. Mixture will further thicken upon cooling. Place in a jar or storage container and refrigerate for up to a week.

SPICY SUGARED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon, cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of the sugar; set aside.
• In a 4-quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water and the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar. Stir over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils.
• Add the almonds and stir constantly over medium-high heat until the water evaporates and the sugar starts to dry and turn gray. (The sugar mixture will start to foam and then start to dry and look like sand. This takes 5 to 6 minutes.) Continue stirring constantly until the sugar starts to melt and caramelize, coating about half of the almonds in a reddish-brown sugar mixture and the rest in a glossy sugar mixture, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture over the almonds, stirring constantly, and immediately transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spreading the almonds to separate. Cool completely, then break apart. Store the almonds in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

RHUBARB ALMOND GALETTE WITH STRAWBERRY WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• For the galette: Shred the frozen butter in a food processor fitted with the shredding disc or on the large holes of a box grater. Place the shredded butter back in the freezer.
• Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the frozen shredded butter to the dry ingredients and toss together with your hands to evenly distributed. Add the 1/4 cup ice water. Begin folding the dough with the palms of your hands to incorporate the water. Continue adding the remaining water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough just comes together when squeezed. Be careful not to overwork. Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap, press into a disc and wrap tightly. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. The dough can be made 1 day ahead.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Lightly flour your work surface. Roll the chilled dough disc out to about 14 inches in diameter. Roll up the dough disc on the rolling pin and carefully transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Mix together the rhubarb, sugar, salt, vanilla and cornstarch in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Place the almond paste between two 12-inch pieces of parchment and roll out to a disc about 10 inches in diameter.
• Remove the dough disc from the refrigerator. Remove one sheet of parchment from the almond paste disc. Center and flip the almond paste disc on top of the dough disc, then peel off the second sheet of parchment.
• Sprinkle the almond flour over the almond paste (this will help keep the bottom crust from getting soggy). Mound the rhubarb filling in the center of the dough and spread until it completely covers the almond paste. Fold the edges of the dough up and over, making sure the filling is still visible in the center. Brush the dough with the beaten egg, then sprinkle the turbinado sugar and sliced almonds.
• Bake until the dough is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.
• For the strawberry whipped cream: Pulse the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor into a fine powder. Add the heavy whipping cream and confectioners' sugar and process until medium-stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Serve the galette with the Strawberry Whipped Cream.

ALMOND CAKE WITH RHUBARB COMPOTE AND STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• To make the cake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 10-inch cake pan, and set aside. Place the almonds and the sugar in a food processor, and process until the almonds are ground. Transfer to a large bowl, and stir in the flour and salt until well combined.
• In another bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Stir the butter and one third of the egg whites into the dry mixture. Gently fold in the remaining whites. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Place on a rack to cool for 10 minutes. Turn cake out of the pan, turn upright, and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the compote. Combine the wine, water, sugar and vanilla bean in a nonreactive saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and add the rhubarb. Poach for 1 minute, and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the rhubarb to a bowl, and set aside. Return the pan to the heat, and boil until liquid has reduced to 1 cup, about 12 minutes. Set aside. When cool, pour the liquid over the rhubarb.
• Assemble just before serving. Cut the cake into wedges. Spoon the compote onto 6 plates, and top with a wedge of cake. Place strawberry slices over cake, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

RHUBARB AND STRAWBERRY COMPOTE WITH FRESH MINT

Steps:

• Combine rhubarb, sugar, and 1/4 cup water in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Simmer gently until rhubarb is tender but not falling apart, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in strawberries. Transfer to bowl and stir in mint. Chill until cold, about 1 hour.

STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Place 1 1/2 pounds strawberries and rhubarb in medium pot.
• Mix in sugar, ginger, lime juice, and peel.
• Cook over high heat until sugar dissolves, stirring often.
• Boil 4 minutes, stirring often.
• Reduce heat to medium; simmer just until rhubarb is beginning to fall apart, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in remaining strawberries.
• Cool.
• Chill until cold at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.