Vol Au Vent Filling Food

VOL-AU-VENT

Steps:

• Lightly flour a clean work surface. Using a rolling pin, gently roll out dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Using a 4-inch vol-au-vent cutter, cut out 4 rounds. If using a 3 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out 8 rounds; cut out centers from half the rounds with a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter to form rings.
• In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolk and cream. Using a pastry brush, moisten top of each vol-au-vent with egg wash, being careful not to let any drip down over the cut edges. (Or moisten each ring and round with egg wash; lay one ring on top of each round, lining up outside edges.) Place vol-au-vents on an ungreased baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap; place in refrigerator 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bake until vol-au-vents are puffed and golden on the outside, about 12 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees; continue baking 10 to 12 minutes to let insides cook through.
• Transfer vol-au-vents to a wire rack. While still warm, cut out center of tops with a paring knife; set aside. Remove and discard inside dough, and let shells cool completely. Spoon or pipe in desired filling. Replace tops, and serve.

VOL-AU-VENT

Steps:

• First, prepare the puff pastry. Sieve the flour and put it on a board making a well in the middle. Into the center of this circle put salt and water - the exact amount of water may vary depending on the type of flour. Mix and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic. Form into a ball and let it stand for 25 minutes.
• Roll out the dough evenly into a sheet measuring 20 x 20 cm (8" x 8"). Put the kneaded butter in the middle and fold the ends of the dough over the butter to enclose it completely. Leave it to stand for 10 minutes in a cool place.
• The next step is called tourage - giving turns to the dough. Flour the board lightly and roll the dough with a rolling pin to obtain a rectangle 60 cm (24") long, 20 cm (8") wide, and 1.5 cm (5/8") thick. Refold the strip in three and roll the folded dough in the opposite direction.
• Give 4 more turns to the dough, leaving it to stand for 10 minutes between each turn. After having been given the 6 prescribed turns, the puff pastry is ready to use.
• Roll the pastry to a thickness of 5 mm (1/5"). Cut the first piece in a circle 15 cm (6") in diameter and place it on a baking sheet which has been brushed with water. Cut the second piece into a circle and remove a round from the middle so it resembles a ring with the interior diameter of 11 cm () and the exterior diameter of 16 cm (). Brush the first piece with water and place the second piece on top. Press lightly to fix and leave for 10 minutes
• Brush the top with a beaten egg. Cut a circle on the central part which will be used as a lid after baking. Bake in a hot oven (180°C/350°F) for 20 to 25 minutes. Detach the lid afterward and leave to cool.
• Next, prepare the sauce financière. Put the shredded ham, mignonette, thyme, bay leaf, mushroom and truffle trimmings and 2 glasses of Madeira in a saucepan. Boil down over low heat and add the consommé. Boil down in half, strain, put back on the heat and mix in ½ glass Madeira. Finally, boil down in a bain-marie.
• Assemble the vol-au-vent by filling them with tepid sauce financière and covering them with a lid. Serve immediately.

CREAMY CHICKEN VOL-AU-VENT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, unfold 1 puff pastry sheet. Using a 3-1/4-in. round cutter, cut out six circles. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet., Unfold the remaining pastry sheet. Cut 6 more circles out with the 3-1/4-in. round cutter; with a 2-1/2-in. cutter, cut centers out of the circles. Place the rings on top of the circles that are on the baking sheet. Place the center circles also on the baking sheet. In a small bowl, whisk egg and water; brush over pastries. Chill 15 minutes. Bake until dark golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. Discard all but 1 tablespoon drippings. Add leeks and pepper to drippings; cook and stir over medium-high heat until tender, 5-7 minutes. Reduce heat to low; stir in bacon, chicken, cream cheese, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until blended; remove from heat., When cool enough to handle, hollow out pastries with a small knife. Fill with chicken mixture. Sprinkle with parsley and pepper. Serve with small center pastries on the side.

CHICKEN VOL-AU-VENTS

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven at 180oc.
• Saute garlic, spring onions, tarragon and seasoings in the butter for 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat, add sliced chicken and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add wine and cream and bring to the boil.
• Combine cornflour with water, then add to the chicken and stir until thickened.
• Spoon into the vol-au-vent cases
• Heat in the oven for 5 mintes.
• Serve it hot.

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.

MUSHROOM VOL AU VENT

Steps:

• If you would rather not make the pastry you can purchase Vol au Vent shells and can skip the first several steps.
• Roll the pastry out to 1/4 inches thick on a well floured board.
• Cut six 3 inches circles with a pastry cutter. Make a smaller cut 1/4 " inside each case all around but do not cut all the way through.
• Place on ungreased baking tray and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Brush the tops of the cases with the egg and water glaze and bake at 400 degree for 20 minutes or until well risen and golden.
• Cool on a wire rack then carefully remove the lids with a sharp knife and scoop out any uncooked mixture.
• Filling.
• melt the butter in a skillet and add the sliced mushrooms. Cover and cook for 2 minutes.
• Blend in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
• Blend in the milk, bring to a boil then lower to a simmer for 2 minutes.
• Season well with salt and pepper.
• Fill the prepared cases with the filling, replace the lids and return to a 400 degree oven for another 10 - 15 minutes. Be careful they do not burn.
• prep time includes making the shells.

SMOKED TROUT, HORSERADISH & ASPARAGUS VOL-AU-VENT FILLING

Steps:

• Cook the asparagus in boiling salted water for 3-4 mins until just tender. Drain and refresh in cold water to stop them cooking further, then pat dry. Cut the asparagus tips off the stalks, so they are about 2cm long, and set aside. Slice the stalks into small pieces.
• Flake the trout into small pieces and put in a bowl. Add the chopped asparagus stalks, horseradish, crème fraîche, dill and lemon juice, and season. Chill until ready to use.
• Divide between 10 vol-au-vent cases and sit an asparagus tip and sprig of dill on top of each.