Individual Macque Choux Pudding Recipes

MAQUE CHOUX SKILLET CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add the bacon to a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat and let the fat render out, stirring occasionally, until the edges begin to brown. Toss in the jalapeño, red bell pepper and corn and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, baking soda and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt together in a large bowl. Stir in the buttermilk, eggs and melted butter, then the green onions, until combined.
• Pour the batter into the hot skillet and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Slice into wedges and serve with tomato butter.
• Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• Set the tomato in the hot pan cut-side down. Cook until the tomato softens and is caramelized, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Let the tomato cool slightly, then add to a food processor along with the butter and salt. Pulse until combined. Remove the butter with a rubber spatula to a small bowl.

SUNNY'S SWEET QUICK KENNER MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• In a large pan with straight sides, add the bacon and cook over medium heat, rendering the fat until crispy, about 8 minutes. Add the onions, celery, bell pepper, butter and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until the veggies are tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, garlic, corn and chicken stock. Stir and bring to a low simmer, then cook until everything is tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the yogurt and a generous amount of black pepper, more salt and cayenne pepper.
• Transfer to a platter and serve.

TASSO MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the Tasso and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the corn, onions and bell peppers. Season with salt and cayenne pepper. Saute for about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the corn is tender. Add the cream, stir, and remove from the heat.

INDIVIDUAL MACQUE CHOUX PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter six 8-ounce ramekins; dust with bread crumbs; set aside. In a bowl, combine corn, onion, pepper, tomato, eggs, and cheese. In a second bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Add to egg mixture; combine. Stir in cream and butter. Pour into ramekins. Place in a baking pan; add water halfway up ramekins. Bake until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool slightly; serve in ramekins or unmold.

HOMEMADE VANILLA PUDDING

Steps:

• In medium saucepan over medium heat, heat milk until bubbles form at edges. In a bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Pour into hot milk, a little at a time, stirring to dissolve. Continue to cook and stir until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Do not boil. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and butter. Pour into serving dishes. Chill before serving.

MAQUE CHOUX

Steps:

• Working with 1 corn cob at a time, set the ear of corn upright in a medium bowl. Shave the corn from the cob by slicing down the sides using the tip of a sharp chef's knife, holding the knife almost vertical. (This gives you neat tablets of corn that land squarely in the bowl and keeps the kernels from scattering all over the counter.) Using the back of the knife, scrape each cob to release all the nibs and the "milk" of the kernels into the bowl. Repeat with remaining ears of corn, then snap the cobs in half, and add them to the bowl.
• In a large, deep sauté pan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat until foaming. Add onion and celery, and season with 1 or 2 pinches of kosher salt. Stir constantly until softened and translucent but not browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add 2 tablespoons butter and the bell pepper, poblano and serrano, and stir constantly, adding another pinch of kosher salt, letting the butter melt and the peppers soften and become translucent, about 2 or 3 minutes. You will smell the peppers' sweetness and their mild capsaicin releasing.
• Add the final 3 tablespoons butter and the corn mixture from the bowl, cobs included, and another pinch of kosher salt. Stir constantly to coat with the butter and combine thoroughly.
• When everything starts to hiss and sound hot, but isn't cooking so hard as to take color, add 1/2 cup water and a healthy few grinds of black pepper, and cover the pan for a couple of minutes to steam/shallow braise the mixture.
• Remove the lid, and stir well, noticing the corn releasing its liquid and the kernels softening, and the cobs turning somewhat translucent, if however vague. You will notice a general softening and melding together. Return the lid, and let cook a few more minutes, noticing the water evaporating and the remaining liquid reducing and gaining some "body" and gloss. Discard the corn cobs, but do suck them before tossing - those buttery juices make a nice cook's treat.
• Taste for salt, and serve. It should be sweet, spicy, a bit wet and surprisingly complex, given the few ingredients and their ordinariness. If you want a smoky taste, add a good pinch of smoked paprika.