Nougat Semifreddo Recipes

NOUGAT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Combine honey, sugar, and water in a small but heavy-bottomed saucepan.
• Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves and syrup is clear.
• Raise heat and bring syrup to a boil. Boil without stirring for two minutes. Remove from heat.
• Slowly and carefully beat the hot syrup into the egg whites, pouring in a thin stream. Continue beating until the meringue has cooled, about five minutes.
• In a separate bowl, beat the cream with the almond extract until it reaches the consistency of sour cream.
• Fold the cream and almonds into the meringue. Gently fold in remaining ingredients.
• Place in a freezerproof container and then cover and freeze overnight.

CHOCOLATE, PISTACHIO & NOUGAT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Butter and line a 900g/2lb loaf tin with cling film. Bring a pan of water to a gentle simmer. Put the sugar and eggs in a heatproof bowl, then place over the simmering water and whisk until pale, thick and doubled in volume. Remove from the heat, plunge the bottom of the bowl into cold water and continue whisking until the mixture is cool.
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave on Low, stir, then fold into the egg mixture. Whip the cream to soft peaks and fold into the chocolate egg mixture with the nougat and pistachios.
• Pour the mixture into the loaf tin, smooth the surface with a spoon, then cover and freeze until firm. This can be done up to 2 weeks ahead. To serve, turn out onto a serving dish, remove the cling film and leave in the fridge for 15 mins to soften slightly before slicing.

NOUGAT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• In a saucepan, beat together the egg yolks, 2/3 cup of the sugar and water. Heat over a low flame, stirring constantly until an instant-read thermometer reads 160 degrees. Do not allow the eggs to curdle. Set aside.
• In a food mixer, whip the cream until it holds soft peaks, add 1/4 cup sugar and continue to whip until the cream holds firm peaks. Reserve.
• In the mixer, whip the egg whites until they hold soft peaks, add1/4 cup sugar and continue to whip until it holds firm peaks. Reserve.
• In a big bowl, mix the custard with the nuts, then fold in the whipped cream, then the egg whites. Place in the freezer overnight. Take out 30 minutes before serving.

NOUGAT SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Toast the shelled hazelnuts until brown, about 20 minutes. Remove and place on a clean dish towel. Allow to cool, then rub the hazelnuts in the towel to remove the skins. When the hazelnuts are at room temperature, grind in a food processor.
• In a saucepan, beat together the egg yolks, 2/3 cup of the sugar, and water. Heat over a low flame, stirring constantly until an instant-read thermometer reads 160 degrees. Do not allow the eggs to curdle. Set aside.
• In a food mixer, whip the cream until it holds soft peaks, add 1/4 cup sugar and continue to whip until the cream holds firm peaks. Reserve.
• In the mixer, whip the egg whites until they hold soft peaks, add 1/4 cup sugar and continue to whip until it holds firm peaks. Reserve.
• In a big bowl, mix the custard with the nuts, then fold in the whipped cream, then the egg whites. Place in the freezer overnight. Take out 30 minutes before serving.

NOUGAT

Steps:

• Line the sides and base of a 4 by 6-inch baking pan with rice paper. Whisk the egg white in a heatproof bowl until stiff.
• Combine the sugar, glucose, honey and water in a small saucepan. Stir over very low heat until the mixture reaches the small crack stage, or 275 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. While whisking, drizzle the syrup into the egg white and continue whisking until glossy and beginning to stiffen.
• Stir in the almonds, and spread the mixture over the rice paper in the prepared pan, pressing it down well. Cover with another layer of rice paper, and place a light weight evenly over the top. Leave nougat until cold, and then cut into squares, wrap in waxed paper, and store in an airtight container.

FROZEN NOUGAT AND CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• 1. Use a sturdy chopping knife to cut the nougat into small pieces, then grind it to a granular consistency in the food processor.
• 2. Separate the eggs, keeping only four of the whites.
• 3. Pour the yolks into a mixing bowl, adding all the sugar. Whip them until they form a foamy mass.
• 4. In another bowl, preferably a chilled steel one, whip the cream until it is quite stiff.
• 5. Add the whipped cream, the chocolate bits, the rum, and 1 1/4 cup of the ground nougat to the beaten egg yolks, mixing well to distribute all the ingredients uniformly.
• 6. In a clean bowl, whip the four reserved egg whites together with a pinch of salt until they form stiff peaks. Fold them gently into the egg yolk, cream, chocolate, and nougat batter.
• 7. Sprinkle the remaining pulverized nougat on the inside of the 2-quart bowl and over it pour the dessert's batter. Pull a sheet of plastic film tightly over the bowl and place it in the freezer. It is ready to be served the following day, but it will keep, as I have done, a full week.
• 8. When ready to serve, take the bowl from the freezer and remove the plastic film. Choose a plate with a lip whose inner diameter fits comfortably over the opening of the bowl. Soak a dishtowel in very hot water and wrap it around the bowl. Slide the blade of a long, thin knife inside the bowl to loosen the dessert from its sides. Set the plate upside down over the bowl, hold the bowl and plate firmly together, and give them a good shake. You will feel the dessert come away from the bowl and drop onto the serving plate.