Dense Chocolate Pate Recipes

DARK CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Lightly oil an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2-inch loaf pan and line it as neatly as possible with plastic wrap, allowing the ends to drape over the sides. (I lay two pieces of plastic wrap crosswise in the pan, overlapping in the center.) Place the pan in the freezer.
• Place a large heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Place the butter in the bowl, then the chocolate and coffee powder and heat until just melted, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula. As soon as the chocolate and butter are melted, take the bowl off the heat and whisk in, one at a time, and in order, first the confectioners' sugar, then the cocoa powder, egg yolks, Cognac and salt. Set the bowl aside for 15 minutes to cool.
• Place the egg whites and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until the whites form firm but not dry peaks. Fold the whites into the cooled chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula.
• Without cleaning the bowl or whisk attachment, pour the cream and vanilla into the bowl and beat on high speed until it forms firm peaks. Fold the cream carefully but thoroughly into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared loaf pan, smooth the top, fold the plastic wrap over the top and chill for 4 hours or overnight.
• To serve, turn the terrine out of the mold and unwrap it. Spoon a puddle of Orange Sauce in the middle of each dessert plate and place a slice of the terrine in the middle. Sprinkle each serving lightly with orange zest and fleur de sel.
• Beat the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed for 3 minutes, until very thick. Reduce to low speed and mix in the cornstarch.
• With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture (I use a liquid measuring cup for pouring). Pour the mixture into a clean, small, deep saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it reaches 180 degrees F on a candy thermometer and thickens to the consistency of heavy cream. The mixture will coat the spoon. Don't cook it above 180 degrees F or the eggs will scramble! Immediately (it will keep cooking in the saucepan), pour the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in the vanilla, Cognac, Grand Marnier and orange zest. Cover and chill.

CHOCOLATE PATE

Steps:

• 1. In top of a double boiler over simmering water, melt chocolate with cream and butter. Beat with a wire whisk until smooth and glossy.
• 2. Remove from heat and add yolks, one at a time, beating well after each.
• 3. Add powered sugar, whisking constantly until smooth. Mix in Rum.
• 4. Butter a small 4-cup loaf pan. Put waxed paper or plastic wrapt in pan, leaving overhang, and butter sides and bottom of the lining. Pour chocolate mixture into pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
• 5. To remove pate, gently loosen lining from pan. It is sticks, set in hot water for a few seconds. Turn pate onto a serving plate and remover plastic lining. Using a hot knife, slice pate into 1/2 inch slice and serve over a pool of raspberry sauce, with a large dollop of fresh whipped cream. Store pate in freezer and slice when needed.
• 6. For Raspberry Sauce: Drain 1 package raspberries and discard juice. Retain juice from other package. Puree fruit, juice, sugar and liquer in food processor or blender. Strain puree to remove seeds . Chill until ready to use.

RICH, DARK CHOCOLATE PATE WITH RASPBERRY SPLASH

Steps:

• Line a 9 by 5 loaf pan with parchment paper.
• Place chopped chocolate into the top of a double boiler; add cream and butter. Melt over medium heat, stirring until completely smooth. Remove from heat and let cool for 1 minute, continuing to stir.
• Whisk in egg yolks. Sift icing sugar into chocolate mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in liqueur. Pour into prepared pan.
• Chill for at least 8 hours to set, or overnight.
• Unmould cake, removing paper. Dust top with cocoa powder. Drizzle a large spoonful of the raspberry splash on each plate. Using a hot, wet knife, slice cake and place on plate.
• Raspberry Splash: In a food processor, puree raspberries, berry sugar and lemon juice. Pass sauce through sieve to remove seeds.
• Note: I have taken this recipe and cut it in half quite successfully ~ or ~ I have placed the cake in 2 smaller loaf pans and frozen one. Freeze for 1 month.

CHOCOLATE PâTE SUCRéE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, place the butter and salt. Using a spatula or a hand whisk, mix the butter until you get a soft and creamy texture (like a thick body cream or lotion).
• Sift the confectioner's sugar, and add it to the butter mixture.
• Mix the sugar in until it's completely mixed in with the butter.
• Whisk the egg yolks (or whole eggs), and add this to the butter sugar mixture along with the vanilla extract and coffee extract.
• Incorporate the egg mixture into the butter until smooth.
• Sift the flour and cocoa together, and add it to the egg, butter, and sugar mixture.
• Gently mix in the flour. I like to use a spatula and mix the dough by cutting through the dough several times.
• Turn the dough out onto a work surface lined with parchment paper. Use the parchment paper to fold the dough over to incorporate all of the flour. If you used whole eggs, take extra care to not overwork the gluten in the dough.
• The dough will be very soft and a little sticky. This is normal. Handle the dough gently with lightly floured hands.
• Cut the dough in half and shape each dough into a disc. Wrap each disc with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill. If your tart mold is a rectangle or square, shape the dough into a rough square instead of a disc.
• Lightly flour your work surface. Place one of the chilled pate sucree discs on the work surface. Knock it a few times with the rolling pin to soften the dough and make it more pliable.
• Start rolling out the dough, turning the dough a ¼ circle every few rolls. This makes it easy to maintain a circle and also prevents the dough from sticking to the counter. If any cracks appear, shape the dough to seal those cracks as you go. If the dough gets too soft, carefully transfer it to the fridge for a few minutes to let it slightly harden again, OR roll it out between two parchment paper sheets.
• The dough needs to be rolled out to a thickness of 3 mm. If at any stage the dough shrinks as you roll it out, that is an indication that the dough has been overworked.
• If the dough is overworked - transfer the dough onto a tray, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rest in the fridge for about 10-20 minutes. Then resume rolling it out afterwards.

CHOCOLATE PATE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F, 180C, Gas Mark 4.
• Coat a 9" or 10" bread loaf pan with cooking spray or lightly butter and set aside.
• Boil water in a kettle.
• Place butter, sugar and coffee in a double boiler (or place large mixing bowl on top of medium saucepan filled with boiling water) and heat until all butter is melted.
• Stir in broken chocolate and mix until smooth.
• Remove from heat (or remove mixing bowl from saucepan) and cool for 10 minutes.
• Add eggs one at a time either mixing by hand or using a hand mixer at a slow speed (only blend, do not beat).
• Pour into greased bread pan.
• Place bread pan in a roasting pan filled with 1 to 1 1/2 inches of warm water.
• Place in oven for 60-75 minutes.
• Remove just before it starts to brown on the edges.
• Let stand until it cool to touch (will reduce in size).
• Place tightly covered in refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight to set.
• To remove from pan, fill sink with 2-3 inches hot water and place pan in sink (careful not to let water spill in chocolate).
• Let sit 10-15 minutes (depending on water temp) and run a small sharp knife around to aid removal.
• Place serving plate on top and flip over.
• Cut into thin pieces.
• Serve with clotted cream, cream, whipped cream topped with fresh raspberries.
• Serves 12-15 slices.
• *N.B.Chocolate should be less than 60% cocoa content.A higher cocoa content will make the paté grainier.
• N.B.You can double the recipe and fill within ¼ inch of top of bread pan.Prepare ramekin dishes for left over liquid.