Grenoble Torte Recipes

VEGETABLE TORTES

Steps:

• Cook potatoes:
• Cover potatoes with cold salted water by 1 inch, then simmer until just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Prepare mushrooms as potatoes cook:
• Finely chop mushrooms with shallots and thyme in 2 batches in a food processor. Sauté half of mixture in 2 tablespoons butter with salt and pepper to taste in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup wine and simmer, stirring, until wine is evaporated, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool, then cook remaining mushroom mixture in same manner. Season as needed.
• Make potato filling:
• Drain potatoes in a colander and, when cool enough to handle, peel. Force warm potatoes through food mill into a large bowl. Stir in hot milk, garlic, scallions, remaining 4 tablespoons butter, peas (do not crush), and salt and pepper to taste. Cool to room temperature.
• Broil eggplants:
• Preheat broiler.
• Cut 2 thin lengthwise slices from opposite sides of each eggplant and discard. Cut eggplants lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, then brush both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange some eggplant slices in 1 layer on rack of a broiler pan and broil in batches 2 to 3 inches from heat, turning once, until just tender and golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes total. Cool cooked eggplant on broiler rack 5 minutes, then transfer to a plate. Broil remainder in same manner.
• Roast peppers:
• Lay bell peppers on their sides on racks of gas burners and turn flames on high. (Or put peppers on rack of broiler pan about 2 inches from heat.) Roast peppers, turning with tongs, until skins are blackened, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer peppers to a large bowl and let stand, covered, 15 minutes. Peel peppers, discarding skins. Slit peppers lengthwise and open them flat, discarding seeds and ribs. Pat peppers dry.
• Make pastry shells:
• Oil springform pans. Roll out 1 sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 16- by 10 1/2-inch rectangle. Trim edges and halve pastry lengthwise. Line half of side of 1 pan with 1 pastry half, leaving a 1 1/2-inch overhang at top and 1 inch of bottom edge on bottom of pan. Gently press pastry into bottom of pan. Repeat with remaining half sheet of dough so that side of pan is completely lined. Gently press together edges of pastry where they meet. Roll out another pastry sheet into a 14-inch square and cut into a 10-inch round using bottom of springform pan as a guide. (Reserve pastry scraps for another use.) Put round in bottom of pan and press edges to seal. Chill pastry-lined pan while repeating procedure with remaining pan and 2 more pastry sheets.
• Assemble tortes:
• Sprinkle bottoms of pastry shells evenly with bread crumbs. Divide filling ingredients between pastry shells in following manner, seasoning each layer with salt and pressing each layer firmly and evenly into pans: potato mixture, 1 cup cheese (1/2 cup each), eggplant, mushroom mixture (press down firmly on mushrooms with paper towels to remove excess moisture and repeat process until towels are almost dry), roasted peppers, and remaining cup cheese.
• Roll out remaining pastry sheet on lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 16- by 12-inch rectangle, then cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide strips with a pizza wheel or a sharp knife. Brush pastry overhang with egg and arrange half of strips in a lattice pattern on top of filling in each torte. Trim strips at edge of pan. Gently press ends of strips into pastry on sides of pans, then roll overhang into inside edge of pan. Brush lattice and rolled edges with egg. Chill tortes 45 minutes.
• Bake tortes:
• Position oven rack in bottom third of oven and cover with a large sheet of foil. Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Bake tortes on foil in oven, rotating pans halfway through baking, until well browned, 45 to 50 minutes (if tortes get too brown, tent edges with foil). Transfer tortes in pans to a rack. Run a sharp knife around inside edges of pans and carefully remove sides of pans. Cool tortes at least 1 hour (to serve warm) and up to 3 hours (to serve at room temperature).

GRENOBLE TART (WALNUT TART)

Steps:

• MAKE TART SHELL: In a medium bowl, with wooden spoon or electric mixer, beat 1/3 cup butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add egg yolk; beat well.
• Gradually beat in flour just until blended (mixture will be crumbly).
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• With hands, form dough into a ball.
• Press evenly into bottom and side of a 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom.
• Bake in center of oven 12 minutes, until lightly browned.
• Cool on wire rack.
• MAKE FILLING.
• Spread nuts on cookie sheet in single layer.
• Bake 375°F oven for 5 minutes; set aside to cool.
• Sprinkle walnuts in bottom of tart shell.
• In heavy 2-quart saucepan, stir sugar with butter, corn syrup and 2 Tablespoons heavy cream.
• Stirring constantly, bring to boiling over medium heat; boil 1 minute.
• Pour over walnuts.
• Bake in center of 375°F oven 10 minutes, or just until mixture is bubbly.
• Place on wire rack to cool.
• Meanwhile, beat remaining cream just until stiff.
• Refrigerate until serving.
• Serve tart at room temperature with bowl of whipped cream.
• Serves 12.
• TARTLETS: Divide pastry into 16 pieces.
• With fingers, press evenly into 16 (2 1/2-inch) tart pans.
• Bake; on cookie sheet, at 375°F 8 to 10 minutes; cool.
• Divide 1 cup finely chopped nuts into shells placed on cookie sheets.
• Pour filling into shells, dividing evenly.
• Bake 8 minutes, or just until filling is bubbly.
• Remove tarts from cookie sheets; cool on wire rack.
• TO SERVE: With tip of sharp knife, loosen edge of pastry from each tart pan.
• Lift out gently to serving plate.
• Serve with chilled whipped cream.
• Makes 16 servings.
• McCalls Cooking School.

TROUT GRENOBLOISE

Steps:

• Using a paring knife or chef?s knife, cut ends from lemons. Working from top to bottom, cut off peel, pith, and membrane in one motion, following curve of lemon. Hold lemon over a bowl to catch juice. Work knife in toward center along segments as close to membranes as possible, letting segments drop into the bowl. Squeeze juice from membranes into bowl. Coarsely chop segments.
• Using a serrated knife, cut bread into 1/4-inch dice. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add bread. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer croutons to paper towels to drain. Wipe out skillet; set aside.
• Season trout with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour; shake off excess. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon oil in skillet over medium-high heat until butter has melted and oil is hot. Add 2 fillets; cook, turning once, until golden, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving plate. Wipe out skillet. Add 2 tablespoons butter and remaining tablespoon oil; repeat with remaining fish.
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until butter begins to turn brown, about 1 minute. Quickly remove from heat, and add capers, parsley, and lemon segments; swirl skillet to combine. Pour sauce over trout fillets, dividing evenly. Sprinkle with croutons. Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley.

MCCALL'S GRENOBLE TART (WALNUT TART)

Steps:

• Make the tart shell: In a medium bowl, with wooden spoon or electric mixer, beat 1/3 cup butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolk; beat well. Gradually beat in flour just until blended (mixture will be crumbly).
• With hands, form dough into a ball. Press evenly into the bottom and side of a 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Bake in center of oven 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack.
• Make Filling: Spread nuts on cookie sheet in single layer. Bake in 375* F oven for 5 minutes, set aside to cool. Sprinkle walnuts in bottom of tart shell. In heavy 2-qt saucepan, stir sugar with butter, corn syrup and 2 Tablespoons heavy cream. Stirring constantly, bring to boiling over medium heat; boil 1 minute. Pour over walnuts.
• Bake in center of 375* oven 10 minutes or just until mixture is bubbly. Place on a wire rack to cool. Meanwhile beat remaining cream, 1 Tablespoon sugar and vanilla just until stiff. Refrigerate whipped cream until serving. Serve tart at room temperature with bowl of whipped cream.
• TO MAKE TARTLETS INSTEAD: Divide pastry into 16 pieces. With fingers, press evenly into 16 (2 1/2-inch) tart pans. Bake on cookie sheet(s) at 375* for 8 to 10 minutes; cool. Divide 1 cup finely chopped nuts into shells placed on cookie sheets. Pour filling into shells, dividing evenly. Bake 8 minutes, or just until filling is bubbly. Remove tarts from cookie sheets; cool on wire rack. To serve: With tip of sharp knife, loosen edge of pastry from each tart pan. Lift out gently to serving plate. Serve with chilled whipped cream. Makes 16 servings.

GRENOBLE TORTE

Steps:

• Place flour, butter, sugar and egg yolk into food processor fit with the chopping blade. Process until dough holds together and forms ball (mixture will be crumbly). Press dough into bottom and sides of 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Bake in preheated 375°F. oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges turn light golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a rack to room temperature. Fill browned tart shell with walnuts. Prepare Caramel Sauce. Pour hot Caramel Sauce over walnuts and bake 10 minutes or until bubbly. Cool thoroughly. Serve with dollop of whipped cream. Caramel Sauce: Combine 2/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup Butter, 1/4 cup dark corn syrup in heavy saucepan and bring to a rapid boil over medium heat stirring constantly. Bring to boil for 1 minute without stirring. Remove from heat; stir in 2 tablespoons Butter. Pour immediately over walnuts in tart shell.

CHOCOLATE WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Beat the egg yolks with half cup of the sugar until well blended, about 2 minutes at high speed in an electric mixer. Beat in the chocolate and fold in half the nuts. Set aside.
• Beat the egg whites with the salt until very softly peaked, then gradually beat in the remaining sugar and continue beating until the egg whites hold firm peaks but are not dry.
• Stir a little of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, then gently fold in about half the remaining egg whites. Finally fold in the remaining nuts and the rest of the egg whites.
• Spoon the mixture into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan. Place in the oven and bake 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the oven and turn upside down on a rack or suspend, upside down, over the neck of a bottle, until completely cooled. Use a knife with a thin, stiff blade to loosen the cake from the pan by running the knife carefully and closely along the sides of the pan. Invert the cake onto a serving plate.