Pistachio Crisps With Mascarpone Cheese And Grape Compote Recipes

BAKED FIGS WITH CHOPPED PISTACHIOS IN MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• For each fig, cut a cross over the stem end, just deep enough to gently squeeze the fig open. Place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the honey and mascarpone in a bowl. Coarsely chop the pistachio nuts, and then add them to the bowl. Remove figs from the oven. Place on a serving plate and top with mascarpone mixture. Garnish with cinnamon and grated dark chocolate.

PISTACHIO CRISPS WITH MASCARPONE CHEESE AND GRAPE COMPOTE

Steps:

• For compote:
• Stir grapes and sugar in heavy large skillet to coat. Let stand 5 minutes. Add juice concentrate and spice powder. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until syrup thickens enough to coat spoon, about 30 minutes. Pour compote into sieve set over medium bowl; drain grapes well. Transfer grapes to another medium bowl. Refrigerate grapes and syrup separately until cold, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover each; keep refrigerated.)
• For mascarpone cream:
• Place mascarpone in small bowl; sift sugar over. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; stir to blend. Chill at least 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.)
• For crisps:
• Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Blend powdered sugar and nuts in processor until nuts are finely chopped. Sprinkle 10-inch square area on work surface with 1/3 cup nut sugar; top with pastry sheet. Sprinkle pastry with 1/3 cup nut sugar. Roll out pastry to 12-inch square. Roll up into 12-inch-long log. Cut into sixteen 3/4-inch-wide rounds. Roll out each to 4-inch-diameter round, sprinkling with more nut sugar as needed to prevent sticking. Arrange rounds on prepared sheets. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake pistachio rounds uncovered until brown on bottom and golden on top, reversing sheets after 10 minutes, about 16 minutes total. Transfer crisps to racks and cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• Spread 2 tablespoons mascarpone cream on each of 8 crisps. Place on plates. Spoon cooked grapes atop cream. Cut 8 crisps in half. Drizzle each dessert with grape syrup, then garnish each with 2 crisp halves, grape cluster, and mint.
• *Italian cream cheese; available in the cheese department of many supermarkets and at Italian markets.

CREPES WITH MASCARPONE AND CHOCOLATE WITH CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• For the crepe batter: In a mixing bowl, beat together the milk and eggs. Whisk in the club soda and a pinch of salt. Gradually whisk in the flour and mix until just combined, then whisk in the melted butter. The mixture should be the consistency of really thin pancake batter. If it's a little thick, add a little more milk. Let the batter sit for at least 30 minutes before using. (HINT, HINT: Crepe batter can be made up to a couple days ahead and refrigerated.)
• For the cherry compote: In a medium saucepan, combine the cherries, granulated sugar, lemon zest and juice and 1/2 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook until the cherries release their juices and the liquid concentrates and becomes slightly syrupy, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• For the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the mascarpone, chocolate chips, granulated sugar and cinnamon. Stir to combine and reserve.
• To make the crepes: In a small nonstick saute pan, melt 1¿2 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Swirl the butter around to coat the bottom of the pan. Wipe out any excess with a paper towel, saving the paper towel to use again--you will.
• Slowly ladle 1 1/2 to 2 ounces of crepe batter into the pan, tipping and rolling the pan around to allow the batter to evenly coat the bottom. It will take a little practice to get the motion of the ocean, the correct temperature of the pan and the proper amount of batter. Even for an experienced crepe maker, it takes a couple tries to get into the groove. The first few crepes always get tossed--accept it and move on.
• When the edges of the crepe begin to pull away from the pan and the bottom begins to brown, turn over the crepe and cook for 1 more minute. Remove the crepe from the pan, let cool and set aside in a stack separated by layers of parchment paper to keep the crepes from sticking together.
• Repeat this process with the remaining batter, wiping the pan with the paper towel or adding more butter as needed--once you get into the swing of things it's fast and fun!
• To assemble: Place a couple tablespoons of the mascarpone filling in the middle of each crepe and spread the filling over half the crepe in an even layer. Roll around the filling to seal. Place 2 filled crepes on each serving plate and spoon the warm cherry compote over the top. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

PARMESAN PISTACHIO CRISPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Place silpat on a large baking sheet, or if not using a silpat or nonstick baking sheet, line a large baking sheet with parchment. Put rounded teaspoons of cheese 2 inches apart on baking sheets and spread each into a 1 1/2 inch circle.
• Sprinkle each round lightly with chopped pistachios (about 1/8 teaspoon for each) and bake until just golden, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Let crisps cool on sheet 1 minute then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Bake more crisps in same manner on cooled sheet, wiping nonstick or silpat in between batches (if using), or replacing parchment with each new batch.

GRAPES ROLLED IN GOAT CHEESE WITH A PISTACHIO CRUST

Steps:

• Take a ball of goat cheese that fits into the palm of your hand.
• Flatten and place a clean red grape in the centre.
• Quickly pull the goat cheese around the grape and roll until the surface of the grape is evenly covered.
• Finally, roll the balls in the pistachios and chill for at least half an hour.
• To serve slice in half.