Chicken Croustade Recipes

JAM-FILLED CROUSTADES

Steps:

• Dough: In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast over milk; stir until dissolved. Let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla seeds. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the dough-hook attachment, mix together 4 1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt, and 1/2 stick butter on low speed until butter is incorporated and mixture resembles coarse meal, 3 to 4 minutes. Add yeast mixture; mix until dough just comes together. Add eggs and yolk; mix until just combined, 2 to 3 minutes (do not overmix).
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, making sure to include any loose bits left at bottom of bowl. Gently knead to form a smooth ball, about 30 seconds. Wrap tightly in plastic; refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together remaining 3 1/2 sticks butter and 2 tablespoons flour. Shape mixture into a 12-by-10-inch rectangle on a piece of plastic wrap. Refrigerate 15 minutes or up to 1 day. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to an 18-by-10-inch rectangle, a little over 1/4 inch thick, keeping the corners as square as possible. Remove any excess flour with a dry pastry brush. Remove butter mixture from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature until it is the same consistency as the dough. With a short side facing you, place butter mixture over two-thirds of the dough. Fold the unbuttered third over as you would a business letter, followed by the remaining third. This seals in the butter.
• Roll out dough again to an 18-by-10-inch rectangle, then fold into thirds as described above; refrigerate 1 hour. This completes the first of three turns. Repeat rolling and folding process two more times, refrigerating at least 1 hour between turns. To help you remember how many turns have been completed, mark the dough after each one: make one mark for the first turn, two for the second, and three for the third.
• Wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to overnight. Dough can also be frozen, tightly wrapped in plastic, up to 2 weeks (thaw in refrigerator overnight before using).
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 20-by-16-inch rectangle, trimming edges if necessary. Using a ruler, cut into twenty 4-inch squares and transfer to one of three parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving an even amount of space between squares until you have two sheets with 7 squares each, and one sheet with 6 squares.
• Working with one square at a time, fold in half to form a triangle. Using a sharp pizza wheel, make a cut parallel to one of the short sides of the triangle, about 1/4 inch from the edge, stopping about 1/8 inch from the opposite short side. Make a second cut parallel to the opposite short side, about 1/4 inch from the edge, stopping about 1/8 inch from the first line. (Make sure lines do not meet.) Unfold triangle back into a square and brush egg wash along edges. Fold outer cut corners over to opposite inside corners. Press borders down to seal. Repeat with remaining squares. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• Filling: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Fill center of each square with 1 tablespoon jam, then lightly brush dough with egg wash. Bake, rotating sheets from top to bottom halfway through, until deep golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely. Pastries are best served the same day.

ROASTED QUAIL WITH SAVORY APPLE AND CHEDDAR CROUSTADE

Steps:

• To prepare the croustade:
• Slice the apples into thin wedges. To a hot saute pan, add 2 tablespoons of the butter and immediately add the apples. Saute over high heat while tossing the apples, cooking until the apples begin to soften and brown on the edges, approximately 3 minutes. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of the chopped herbs and season with salt and pepper; continue to cook for 30 seconds. Remove the apples from the heat and let them cool for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Lay out the pie dough disks and evenly spread 2 tablespoons of the grated cheddar on each. Place approximately 3 to 4 tablespoons of the apple mixture in the center of each pie dough disk. To form the croustade work from the outside in, folding in 2-inch pleats and continue around until the folds meet each other. The croustade should have an accordion look with a hole in the center; it should look like a small volcano.
• Either set aside and keep refrigerated until ready to bake, or bake in a 450 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until evenly golden brown. Keep warm until ready to use.
• To prepare the quail:
• Slice the fennel very thinly. Heat a saute pan over high heat, add 2 tablespoons of butter, and then add the fennel and saute for 3 to 4 minutes until the fennel starts to become tender and translucent. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Carefully open the breast cavity of each quail and fill the cavity with approximately 1 tablespoon of the sauteed fennel. Do not over-stuff the quail, as they will shrink when cooking.
• Place the quail in a bowl or shallow container. Add 1 1/2 cups of the red wine, the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of chopped herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Gently toss the quail to evenly disperse the herbs, salt and pepper. Marinate the quail in the refrigerator, covered, for at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours.
• In a separate bowl, combine the blueberries and the remaining 1/2 cup of wine and let sit for 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Remove the quail from the marinade and drain off the excess liquid, discarding the remaining marinade. To a large oven-safe saute pan over high heat, add enough vegetable oil to evenly coat the pan (about 2 tablespoons). Place the quail, breast-side down, in the pan and cook for 2 minutes or until evenly browned. Turn the quail over and cook for 1 minute on the other side, or until browned. Place the saute pan in the oven and roast for 8 to 10 minutes, or until fully cooked through.
• Remove the quail from the pan and immediately add the wine and blueberry mixture. Return the pan to the stovetop and cook over high heat for 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper and add a healthy pinch of the herb blend. Continue to cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and remove from the heat. Whisk the sauce until the butter is incorporated.
• Place a warm croustade on each plate. Split the quail down the middle and arrange around the croustade. Drizzle the sauce on and around the quail and evenly distribute the blueberries. Serve immediately.

HORSERADISH CHICKEN TARTLETS

Steps:

• Mix the cooked chicken with the apple and horseradish sauce, then season. Spoon mixture into 24 mini croustades or onto toasted rounds of country-style bread and top with watercress.