Cream Of Lentil And Chestnut Soup With Foie Gras Custard Recipes

CHESTNUT SOUP

Steps:

• To Cook Chestnuts: With a sharp knife, slice an 'X' across each chestnut. Place chestnuts in a single layer on a jelly roll pan. Pour 1/4 cup water into the pan. Bake in a preheated 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) oven for 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, shell and peel.
• In a large saucepan combine the chicken stock, shelled chestnuts and chopped onions. Place the parsley sprigs, cloves and bay leaf in a spice bag and add to the chicken stock mixture. Simmer over medium-low heat for 45 minutes.
• Discard the spice bag and puree the chestnut mixture in a food processor or blender. Add the heavy cream, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Return mixture to saucepan and gently heat through. To serve to with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream, a bit of chopped parsley and some cooked chopped chestnuts just before serving. High quality vegetable broth can be substituted for the chicken broth.

CREAM OF LENTIL AND CHESTNUT SOUP WITH FOIE GRAS CUSTARD

Steps:

• Make croutons:
• Heat 1/4 inch oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook bread, stirring frequently, until deep golden, about 1 minute. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Make soup:
• Tie thyme, parsley, chives, and bay leaves together with kitchen string to make a bouquet garni. Bring lentils, chestnuts, water, bouquet garni, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan. Simmer, partially covered, until lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Discard bouquet garni and reserve 2 cups cooking liquid. Purée remaining soup in 2 or 3 batches in a blender (use caution when blending hot liquids), then pour through a large sieve into a large bowl, discarding solids. Whisk in enough of reserved cooking liquid to reach a thin, creamy consistency, then season with salt and pepper. (Soup will continue to thicken as it stands; keep reserved cooking liquid on hand to thin as needed.)
• Make custard while soup simmers:
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Purée foie gras, whole eggs, yolks, and remaining teaspoon salt in a food processor until very smooth. With motor running, add 1 cup cream in a stream and blend until just combined (do not overprocess, or cream will curdle).
• Put soup plates on 2 large baking sheets, then divide custard among them. Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven until just set, 15 to 20 minutes (some custards will cook quicker than others; check each one). Cool to warm.
• To assemble and serve:
• Reheat soup, stirring occasionally, until very hot. Beat remaining ‚ cup cream until it just holds stiff peaks, then vigorously whisk whipped cream into soup. Pour soup over custards and sprinkle with croutons and almonds.

CREAM OF LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the 4 cups of broth, lentils, bay leaf and clove. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until lentils are tender, 25-30 minutes., Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, saute onion and celery in butter until crisp-tender. Add the carrots, salt, sugar, curry powder and pepper; saute until vegetables are tender, 2-3 minutes longer . Add garlic; cook for 1 minute., Drain lentils; discard broth, bay leaf and clove. Add lentils to vegetable mixture. Stir in the spinach, remaining 2 cups broth, cream, lemon juice and parsley; cook over low heat until heated through and spinach is wilted.

CHESTNUT, LENTILS AND VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Pour the olive oil into a large, deep pot set over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion and garlic; cook until transparent, about 5 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, vegetable broth, and water; cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, pour in the tomatoes, and cook 10 to 15 minutes more. Reduce heat to low, and mix in the lentils and chestnuts; cook for 1 hour until the chestnuts soften. Pour in more water to thin the stew, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper.