Tangerine Semifreddo With Salted Almond Brittle Recipes

TANGERINE SEMIFREDDO WITH SALTED ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• For brittle:
• Coat large rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon butter. Combine sugar, corn syrup, 1 cup water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Attach candy thermometer to side of pan. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to boil. Boil without stirring until mixture turns amber and thermometer registers 330°F to 340°F, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; immediately stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then almonds and baking soda (mixture will bubble). Working quickly, pour mixture out onto prepared baking sheet. Using offset metal spatula, quickly spread mixture into irregular 15x10-inch rectangle. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sea salt evenly over brittle. Cool brittle completely at room temperature until firm, about 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Break brittle into irregular pieces and store in airtight container.
• Coarsely chop enough brittle to measure 1 1/2 cups; store in airtight container while making semifreddo mixture.
• For semifreddo:
• Line 9x5x3-inch metal loaf pan with 2 layers of plastic wrap, leaving generous overhang on all sides. Fill large bowl with ice cubes and water. Whisk egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, tangerine juice, and tangerine peel in medium metal bowl. Set bowl with yolk mixture over saucepan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until mixture thickens and instant-read thermometer inserted into mixture registers 160&Deg;F, about 3 minutes. Remove bowl from over hot water and set over bowl with ice water. Using electric mixer, beat mixture until thick and cool, about 3 minutes. Remove bowl from over ice water.
• Beat cream in another large bowl until peaks form; set aside. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold 1/3 of egg whites into yolk mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining whites in 2 additions. Fold in whipped cream in 2 additions until just incorporated.
• Spread 1/3 of semifreddo mixture (about 3 cups) evenly in loaf pan. Sprinkle 3/4 cup chopped brittle evenly over. Repeat layering with half of remaining semifreddo mixture; sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup brittle over, then spread remaining semifreddo mixture over (loaf pan will be very full and mixture will extend slightly over top of pan). Fold plastic wrap overhang over semifreddo to cover. Freeze overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.
• For sauce:
• Bring tangerine juice and honey to boil in heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Boil until mixture is syrupy and reduced to generous 1/3 cup, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl; cool completely. Stir in tangerine segments. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• Invert semifreddo onto platter. Remove plastic wrap. Dip large knife into hot water, wipe dry, then cut semifreddo crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices, dipping knife into water and wiping dry as needed. Place 1 slice on each plate. Spoon tangerine sauce alongside semifreddo and serve.
• Ingredient tip:
• Maldon sea salt has soft, pyramid-shaped crystals and a mild flavor. It's available at some specialty foods stores and from igourmet.com.

TANGERINE-SCENTED ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Peel the tangerines and place the peels in a small saucepan. Add cold water to cover and bring to a boil. Drain the peels, add fresh cold water to cover and bring to a boil again. Drain, rinse under cold running water and drain again. Dry completely with paper towels.
• In a food processor, combine the almonds and tangerine peels and process until finely ground. Strain the juices from the tangerines through a sieve set over a bowl, pressing against the fruit to release all the juice.
• In a large saucepan, combine the almond mixture, granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of the tangerine juice and simmer, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved, about 7 minutes. Let cool.
• Shape tablespoon-size portions of the mixture into 1 1/2-inch-thick pear shapes, wetting your fingers with the remaining tangerine juice to keep the dough from sticking to your hands. Dredge each cookie in confectioners' sugar to coat. Wrap the cookies individually in cellophane or cover tightly in a container. Let stand 3 days before serving. They will keep for 7 to 10 days.

TANGERINE CHOCOLATE SEMIFREDDO

Steps:

• In top of a double boiler or metal bowl over simmering water, combine egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, tangerine zest, juice and salt. Beat on medium speed until mixture is thick, frothy and holds a ribbon and a thermometer reads 160°. Remove from heat; whisk in melted chocolate and vanilla. Quickly transfer to a bowl; place in ice water and refrigerate 15 minutes or until completely cool, stirring occasionally., In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add remaining sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into cooled chocolate mixture. Pour into six freezer-safe dessert glasses or dishes. Freeze until firm, 4 hours or overnight., Just before serving, top with sweetened whipped cream and dust with cocoa. Serve immediately.

SPICED HONEY SEMIFREDDO WITH DRIED FRUIT AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Pour the milk into a saucepan and bring just to a boil over medium-high heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar until the sugar starts to dissolve and the yolks turn light yellow, about 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in the hot milk, adding it in a thin stream at first so as not to cook the yolks, and then more quickly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, without boiling, until the mixture thickly coats the back of a spoon, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and amaretto. Refrigerate until cool (or chill in a water bath).
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and toast until golden and fragrant, 7 to 10 minutes.
• When the custard is cold, whip the cream to stiff peaks and fold into the custard along with the toasted almonds. Scrape the mixture into a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan, cover and freeze until firm.
• Meanwhile, put the figs, dates, honey, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan and set it over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes until the fruit is soft. Let cool slightly, then remove the cinnamon stick.
• To serve, dip the bottom of the loaf pan in a bowl of hot water for 5 seconds. Put a platter on top and then invert quickly; lift off the loaf pan. Cut the semifreddo into slices and put the slices on plates. Spoon the spiced honey and dried fruit over and crumble amaretto cookies over the top for crunch.

TANGERINE SEMIFREDDO (FROZEN TANGERINE SOUFFLE)

Steps:

• To form a collar, cut a sheet of waxed paper, aluminum foil or parchment that's long enough to fit around a 1qt souffle dish. Fold it in quarters lengthwise to make a ribbon about 3" wide. Wrap the collar around the top of the souffle, and tape the ends together. The collar should extend about 2" above the rim of the dish; secure with tape and/or a rubber band, and place in the freezer to chill.
• Zest the tangerines with a fine grater/microplane to make about 1t zest (or more to taste) and juice the tangerines, until you have 1/2c of juice. In a small saucepan, combine the zest and juice, and warm over low heat. Add gelatin and stir until it dissolves, then add vanilla extract. Place the saucepan in a bowl of cold water until the mixture thickens into a jelly (or place in a bowl of ice water if your kitchen is warm, or if you live in a hot climate). Set aside.
• Bring a small stockpot of water to a simmer. Mix egg yolks & sugar in a medium metal or glass mixing bowl, and place over the simmering water (being careful not to let the bottom of the bowl touch the water). Immediately start whisking the egg yolks and continue until they are pale, and have approximately doubled in volume. You'll know the sugar has melted when you rub a little of the mixture between your fingers, and you don't feel any grit from the sugar.
• When the yolks have doubled in volume, whisk in the thickened, cooled tangerine juice, and continue whisking and scraping until the entire mixture has cooled further (a few minutes). It should be thick and sticky. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, beat egg whites to stiff peaks; set aside (I stowed them in the fridge). In a large bowl, beat heavy cream to soft peaks; set aside. Spoon half of the egg whites into the cooled egg yolk mixture, and stir until its color becomes lighter. Add remaining egg whites to the large bowl of whipped cream, and add the tangerine mixture on top. Gently fold them all together to make a uniform mixture.
• Gently spoon the mixture into the chilled souffle dish. It should come about halfway up the paper collar, but if not, it will still taste and look good (my dish was slightly bigger, and it turned out great). Freeze until firm, about 4hrs. If you freeze it overnight, transfer it to the fridge for at least 1hr so it can soften before serving. However, ours froze for six hours, and 20 minutes in the fridge wasn't enough for it to thaw as much as we would have liked (so use your best judgement).
• When ready to serve, if desired, sprinkle with pistachios, and carefully remove the collar. Cut into sectons with a very sharp knife, and carefully remove with a small offset spatula.
• If you make this in advance and it will be in the freezer for more than 4hrs, once it freezes, cover it with plastic wrap and gently press the wrap against the surface of the dish.

TANGERINE TOSSED SALAD

Steps:

• In a small skillet, cook and stir the almonds and 2 tablespoons sugar over medium-low heat for 25-30 minutes or until the sugar is melted and the almonds are toasted. Remove from the heat. Peel and section the tangerines, reserving 1 tablespoon juice., In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, onions, tangerines and almonds. In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, reserved juice and remaining sugar. Pour over salad; toss to coat.

TANGERINE-SCENTED ALMOND COOKIES (AMYGDALOTA ME MANDARINI)

Steps:

• Peel tangerines and place the peels in a saucepan. Set the tangerines aside. Add enough cold water to cover the peels and bring to a boil. Drain the peels, and add fresh cold water to cover them, and bring them to the boil again. Drain and rinse with cold running water. Dry completely with paper towels.
• Combine the almonds and tangerine peels in the food processor and pulse repeatedly until they are finely ground.
• Juice the tangerine fruit by placing them in a sieve set over a bowl, and pressing against the fruit to mash and release all the juice.
• Combine the almond mixture, sugar and 2/3 cup of the tangerine juice in a large saucepan, and simmer, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved - about 7 minutes. Let cool.
• Shape the mixture into tablespoon size portions, making a pear shape of about 1 1/2". Wet your fingers with remaining tangerine juice to make the job easier. Dredge each cookie in confectioner's sugar to coat. Wrap individually in cellophane, colored plastic wrap, or just place in a single layer in a container with a lid. Let stand 3 days before serving.

TANGERINE AND ALMOND SHORTBREAD TART

Steps:

• Zest and juice tangerines. Set zest aside and transfer juice to refrigerator until chilled.
• Line the bottom of a 10-inch round tart pan with removable bottom with a parchment paper round; butter parchment and set aside.
• Place flour, confectioners' sugar, salt, butter, and tangerine zest in the bowl of a food processor; pulse to combine. Add 4 tablespoons chilled tangerine juice, one tablespoon at a time, until mixture begins to look like wet sand; continue pulsing until dough comes together.
• Transfer dough to prepared tart pan and gently press dough into bottom of pan and up sides. Transfer to refrigerator and let chill for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Place superfine sugar, brown sugar, honey, and 2 teaspoons tangerine juice in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, swirling gently, until sugar and honey are melted. Continue cooking until mixture caramelizes, 5 to 7 minutes, brushing down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in any remaining tangerine juice or water to prevent crystallization.
• Add heavy cream and increase heat to medium; bring mixture to a low boil and cook until thick and caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in almonds; spread mixture into chilled tart crust.
• Place tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer tart to oven; bake for 30 minutes. Decrease temperature to 350 degrees and bake until crust is browned, about 15 minutes more. Remove from oven and let tart cool completely. Remove tart from pan; remove bottom and parchment and serve with whipped cream; garnish with mint.

CLEMENTINE & GRAND MARNIER SEMI-FREDDOS

Steps:

• Cut 6 nice slices from the clementines, then peel and thinly slice the rest. Place in a pan with the sugar and 300ml water. Cover and simmer gently for 20 mins until the clementines are soft, but not falling apart. Cool. Meanwhile, oil and line 6 baby pudding or dariole moulds with cling film.
• Reserve the slices with peel. Very finely chop the rest and mix with the Grand Marnier. Add the marmalade to the remaining syrup and boil until it has reduced to about 6 tbsp. Place 1 tbsp of the marmalade syrup into the base of each mould and put a clementine slice on top.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff with an electric whisk. Add the sugar to the egg yolks and whisk until thick and leaving a trail. Now beat the cream until it holds its shape. If you beat everything in this order you don't need to wash the whisks in between.
• Fold the chopped clementine mixture into the cream, stir into the yolks, then finally fold in the whites. Spoon on top of the clementines.
• To freeze, place straight in the freezer on a tray. When solid, wrap with cling film, then foil.
• To serve, remove from the moulds and strip off the cling film. Turn out into small coupe glasses.