Wonton Napoleons Food

WONTON TACO CUPS

Steps:

• For the wonton cups: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brush 12 cups of a mini muffin pan with the butter. Fit 1 wonton wrapper into each cup, folding the sides as needed.
• In a small bowl, toss together the beans, green chiles, chili powder and lime juice. Spoon some of the bean mixture into each cup, about a heaping tablespoon each. Bake until the filling is warmed through, about 12 minutes. Remove the pan and top each cup with a pinch of cheese. Return the pan to the oven and continue to bake until the cheese is melted and the wontons are golden, another 5 minutes.
• For the toppings: Let the taco cups cool in the pan for a minute or two. Transfer the taco cups to a platter and top each with some avocado, pico de gallo, a small dollop of sour cream, hot sauce, if using, and cilantro.

BERRY NAPOLEONS WITH SUGARED WONTON WRAPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Arrange wonton wrappers on prepared baking sheet and spray the surface with cooking spray. Sprinkle sugar over wontons. Bake 5 minutes, until golden brown. Remove wontons from oven and arrange 4 on a serving platter (or individual dessert dishes). Top each wonton with 2 tablespoons whipped topping and then 2 tablespoons berries. Top with second wonton wrapper. Repeat layers (whipped topping, berries, wonton wrapper). Sift confectioners' sugar over top layer. Serve immediately.

NEAPOLITAN NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Because the pastry cream needs to be removed from the saucepan immediately, prepare a medium sized bowl, a fine mesh strainer or a food mill, and a heat resistant rubber spatula near the stove.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour with 1 cup of the sugar as well as the eggs until incorporated. The mixture will be very thick.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, the remaining cup of sugar and the salt. With a pairing knife, scrape the inside of the vanilla bean and place contents into the saucepan. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally to prevent scalding. Remove from heat when the milk just begins to simmer. While whisking constantly, slowly pour about half of the milk in a thin stream into the flour mixture. Once the 2 mixtures are combined, continue whisking the combined flour and milk and return the contents to the saucepan with the remaining milk. Place the saucepan on medium heat while whisking constantly. Cook the mixture until it thickens, approximately 2 minutes. Immediately remove the pan from the heat as soon as the first bubble breaks the surface of the pastry cream.
• Pour the hot pastry cream into the strainer or food mill over a medium sized bowl. With a spatula, push the cream through the strainer or food mill. To prevent a skin from forming, place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the cream and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours, or overnight.
• Have packaged puff pastry unrolled on cutting board. Bake the puff pastry according to package directions. Spread layers of pastry cream between the baked puff pastry alternating optional flavors. Garnish with fruit or nuts and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

MANDARIN NAPOLEONS WITH SUGARED WONTON WRAPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Arrange the wonton wrappers on the sheet and spray them with cooking spray. Sprinkle them evenly with the granulated sugar, and then bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and arrange 4 of the wontons on a serving platter or individual dessert dishes. Top each one with 2 tablespoons of the whipped topping and then one-eighth of the mandarin sections. Top each with a second wonton wrapper. Repeat the layers (whipped topping, mandarin oranges, wonton wrapper). Sift the confectioners' sugar over the top layer and serve.

NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface roll out the pastry to 1/16-inch thick. Transfer pastry to a parchment-lined sheet pan and trim edges. With a fork prick surface all over and chill for 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Cover pastry with a second piece of parchment paper and weight down with a second sheet pan. Bake pastry for 10 minutes. Remove top sheet pan and parchment and continue to bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer pastry to a cooling rack.
• Make the filling: In a heavy saucepan combine the heavy cream, milk, and sugar. Using a knife scrape the seeds of the vanilla bean into the milk mixture and add the whole bean. Bring to a boil. Remove pan from heat and allow to steep for one hour. Discard the bean or reserve for another use.
• Pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees. Whisk the yolks into the cooled milk mixture and strain through a fine sieve into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place the dish in a larger roasting pan and add enough hot water to reach halfway up the side of the dish. Bake custard for 3/4 to 1 hour until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. let cool; cover and chill for several hours or overnight. To assemble: Transfer pastry to a flat surface. Using a ruler measure out three 3 1/2 x 11-inch strips. With a serrated knife carefully cut the pastry using a gentle sawing motion. With a paring knife cut the custard into two 3 1/2 x 11-inch strips and cut each strip in half crosswise. With a long, wide offset spatula transfer a piece of custard onto a strip of pastry, covering half of it. Transfer a second piece of custard to fill the first layer. Top with a second strip of pastry, smooth side up, and repeat process. If necessary, smooth the sides of the napoleon with a knife so that they are stacked neatly.
• Using a serrated knife carefully slice the napoleon into individual serving pieces. Sift confectioner's sugar over the napoleon to form a thick coating. Heat skewers on stovetop burner until red-hot and brand the sugar with cross hatch marks.
• Recommended drink: 1993 Passito di Pantelleria, Nuova Agricoltura

CHINESE WONTONS

Steps:

• Combine pork, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and vegetables in a bowl.
• Separate wonton skins.
• Place a heaping teaspoon of filling in the center of the wonton.
• Brush water on 2 borders of the skin, covering 1/4 inch from the edge.
• Fold skin over to form a triangle, sealing edges.
• Pinch the two long outside points together.
• Heat oil to 450 degrees and fry 4 to 5 at a time until golden.
• Drain and serve with sauce.

RED CURRY DUCK WONTON NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Cut whole scallion crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into thin strips and chill, along with cilantro sprigs, in a bowl of ice and cold water (to crisp and curl) about 1 hour.
• Heat a wok or 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until a bead of water dropped onto cooking surface evaporates immediately. Add 1/4 cup oil, swirling wok to coat, and heat until it begins to smoke. Add minced scallion, ginger, and garlic and stir-fry until softened, about 2 minutes. Add red curry paste (to taste) and stir-fry, breaking up lumps, 1 minute. Add duck and stir-fry 2 minutes. Transfer duck mixture to a large bowl and cool slightly.
• Add mango, pineapple, bell pepper, chopped cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste to duck mixture.
• Heat remaining 2 cups oil in cleaned wok over moderate heat until it registers 390°F on thermometer. Fry wonton wrappers, 1 at a time, turning over once, until golden, about 30 seconds each. Transfer with tongs to paper towels to drain.
• Drain scallion strips and cilantro sprigs in a sieve and pat dry.
• Put a wonton wrapper on a plate and top with 2 to 3 tablespoons duck mixture. Repeat layering twice, ending with duck mixture. (Napoleon will have 3 wonton layers.) Top with a cilantro sprig and a few scallion strips. Make 7 more napoleons in same manner.

STEAMED PORK & PRAWN WONTONS

Steps:

• Mix together the pork, prawns, spring onions, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce, oil and water chestnuts.
• Peel off a wonton wrapper and, with a pastry brush, lightly brush round the outside with cold water. Place 1 tsp of mixture in the centre and scrunch up into a pouch, squeezing to seal. Do not overfill. Repeat until you have around 35-40. (These can be chilled for up to 1 hr on a tray lined with baking parchment.)
• For the sauce, mix together the soy sauce, sherry and ginger in a small bowl. To steam, bring a large pan of water to the boil. Line a bamboo or metal steaming basket with lettuce leaves to fit.
• Arrange half the pouches in the basket (without them touching), cover and steam for 5 mins. Remove with tongs to a platter and steam the rest - check the water level. Serve, sprinkled with spring onion or sesame seeds, with the bowl of sauce.

CHICKEN WONTONS

Steps:

• Mix chicken, egg, green onion, soy sauce, sesame oil, vegetable oil, and salt in a large bowl until evenly combined.
• Scoop about 1 teaspoon chicken mixture and place into the center of a wonton wrapper. Moisten 2 adjacent edges of the wrapper with water and fold into a triangle. Connect the two lower points of the wrapper and moisten to seal and make a hat shape. Repeat with remaining chicken and wonton wrappers.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil. Stir wontons into boiling water. Add 1/2 cup cold water and allow water to return to a boil. Repeat boiling with another 1/2 cup cold water. Wontons are ready when chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes. Drain.

HONEY BAKED WONTON NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven at 400°F.
• Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil.
• Microwave honey for about 25 seconds to liquefy.
• Brush one side of wonton with honey and place on baking sheet, honey side up.
• Bake until brown for about 7 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.
• Filling: Beat cream cheese, honey, and vanilla until smooth.
• Place 1 wonton on a plate, spread with 1 tablespoon of the filling.
• Place sliced berries on top of filling.
• Place another wonton wrapper on top and spread with another tablespoon of filling.
• Next, add blueberries on top of filling.
• Put a third wonton wrapper on top of berries and garnish with strawberries and blueberries.