Fennel Poppy Seed Cracker Wreath Recipes

FENNEL & POPPY SEED CRACKER WREATH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line one baking sheet with parchment. Place the flour, baking powder, butter, fennel and poppy seeds with ½ tsp salt in a food processor, then whizz for a minute until the butter is completely mixed with the flour. Add 100ml water and pulse until the mixture comes together to a firm dough that's not sticky - you may need another tbsp or so of water, if it still feels.
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface as thinly as you can. Stamp out lots of different sized circles using a selection of round and fluted biscuit cutters of 4cm, 5cm and 6cm diameter. Brush a little milk over the surface of the biscuits, and prick all over with a fork. Start to arrange in a circle on the baking sheet, overlapping each other. If you want to serve a cheese in the centre, check that it will fit. Scatter over a few more fennel and poppy seeds and bake for 15 - 20 mins until the biscuits feel dry and sandy with a slightly golden colour around the edges - they may still feel soft but will harden up when cooling. Cool on the baking sheet. Serve with cheese & chutney. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

POPPY SEED CRACKERS WITH EGG MOUSSE AND CAVIAR

Steps:

• For the poppy seed crackers: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Pulse the flour, poppy seeds, onion powder and kosher salt together in a food processor to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 1/4 cup of the half-and-half and process until the dough begins to clump together.
• Lay out a large piece of parchment paper and dust it with flour. Turn the dough out onto the parchment, form it into a flat rectangle and then roll it out to approximately 10 by 17 inches. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Trim the dough to straighten the edges, then cut into 2-by-1-inch rectangles. Brush the tops with the remaining tablespoon of half-and-half and sprinkle with the flaky sea salt. Transfer the crackers on the parchment to a baking sheet and bake until crisp and light golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool on a rack. (The crackers can be made up to 1 day ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature.)
• For the egg mousse: Pulse the eggs, mayonnaise, lemon juice and some kosher salt in a food processor until very smooth. Add the chives and pulse to combine. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a medium tip and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To assemble: Pipe the mousse onto the crackers. Top with a small dollop of caviar and some chives. Serve immediately.

LEEK, FENNEL, AND POPPY SEED TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss leeks, fennel and 3 tablespoons butter in roasting pan. Roast vegetables until tender, stirring occasionally, about 35 minutes. Cool. Reduce oven temperature to 425°F.
• Whisk milk and yolks in small bowl. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; whisk 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk mixture. Bring to simmer, whisking constantly; continue to whisk until sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese. Mix in vegetables. Season with salt and pepper.
• Roll out pastry on floured surface to 12-inch square. Transfer pastry to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Trim overhang. Fill pastry with vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese and poppy seeds. Bake until crust is deep golden, about 25 minutes. Serve warm.

POPPY SEED CRACKERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Stir together egg, water, and salt. Brush each tortilla on 1 side with egg wash, then, holding over a bowl, sprinkle with poppy seeds to cover completely.
• Cut out 7 or 8 stars from each coated tortilla (you'll have to press hard; use a pot holder to protect your hands), transferring to 2 baking sheets, seeded sides up. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, in middle of oven until crisp, about 15 minutes. Cool crackers on a rack.

POPPY SEED CRACKERS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl add flours, poppy seeds and cheese together-whisk.
• Whisk together oil and soy sauce and add to the flour mixture along with enough ice water to form a dough ball.
• Wrap and chill for around 30 minutes.
• On an oiled cookie sheet roll out dough to 0.125 inch thick and with a sharp knife cut into 2 inch squares.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes in a 325 degree oven.