Emeril Lagasses Banana Pecan Beignets Recipes

CORSICAN CHESTNUT BEIGNETS

Steps:

• Preheat the fryer to 360 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with a dough hook, add the yeast, sugar, shortening, and milk, mix for 2 minutes. Add the egg. Mix well. Add 2 cups of the flour, the chestnut flour and salt. Beat at low speed until all of the flour is incorporated, about 1 minute. Then beat at medium speed until the mixture forms a ball, leaves the sides of the bowl, and climbs up the dough hook. Remove the dough from the bowl.
• Using your hands, form the dough into a smooth ball. Lightly oil a bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it to oil all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draft-free place until it doubles in size, about 2 hours.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and pat the dough into a rectangle about 1-inch thick. Lightly dust the surface of the dough. Roll out the rectangle to 12 1/2 inches long by 10 inches wide and about 1/4-inch thick. With a sharp knife, cut the dough into 20 (2 1/2-inch) square beignets. Fry the beignets, a couple at a time until golden brown and crispy on all sides, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove and drain on paper towels. Drizzle with honey or sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm.

CREAMY PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Mix light brown sugar, granulated sugar, heavy cream, butter, water and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sugar dissolves. Stir in pecans and cook over medium heat until mixture reaches the soft ball stage, 238 to 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. If you spoon a drop of boiling syrup into a cup of ice water, it will form a soft ball that flattens easily between your fingers.
• Remove pan from heat and stir rapidly until mixture thickens. Drop pralines by the spoonfuls, 1-inch apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Let cool completely until firm. Store in an airtight container.

PECAN WAFFLES WITH ROASTED PECAN AND BANANA SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat the waffle iron according to manufacturer's instructions and preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, pecans, baking powder and salt in a medium mixing bowl and whisk to combine. In another bowl, combine the egg yolks and sugar and whisk until pale yellow. Add the vanilla extract, 1/2 cup melted butter, and milk, and whisk to blend. Combine the egg and milk mixture with the flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the waffle batter. Do not overmix.
• Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the waffle iron with some of the vegetable oil. Pour enough batter into the iron to just barely cover the waffle grid. Close the waffle iron and cook according to manufacturer's instructions, or until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you prepare the remaining waffles.
• In a saute pan, add the remaining 1/2 cup of butter and the pecan pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pecan pieces are light golden and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the banana slices and cook until light golden and soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the syrup and bring to a simmer. Serve with the warm waffles.

EMERIL LAGASSE'S BANANA PECAN BEIGNETS

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter; add the brown sugar and cook, stirring constantly to dissolve, for about 1 minute.
• Add the pecans and continue to cook for 1 minute, then add the bananas and vanilla; now cook that for 1 minute.
• Remove pan from the heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the beaten eggs, milk and baking powder to make a batter; add the flour, 1/4 cup at the time, beating until it all is used and the batter is smooth.
• Now add the banana mixture to the batter and fold to mix.
• In a pot that is deep enough to safely deep-fry, heat the shortening to 360F; season with cane syrup and cinnamon.
• Drop the batter, a heaping tablespoon at a time, into the hot oil.
• When the beignets pop to the surface, roll them around with a slotted spoon in the oil to brown them evenly.
• Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Immediately sprinkle the beignets with icing sugar (powdered sugar) and make sure you serve the beignets warm.