Sashimi Napoleon Recipes

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface roll out the pastry to 1/16-inch thick. Transfer pastry to a parchment-lined sheet pan and trim edges. With a fork prick surface all over and chill for 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Cover pastry with a second piece of parchment paper and weight down with a second sheet pan. Bake pastry for 10 minutes. Remove top sheet pan and parchment and continue to bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer pastry to a cooling rack.
• Make the filling: In a heavy saucepan combine the heavy cream, milk, and sugar. Using a knife scrape the seeds of the vanilla bean into the milk mixture and add the whole bean. Bring to a boil. Remove pan from heat and allow to steep for one hour. Discard the bean or reserve for another use.
• Pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees. Whisk the yolks into the cooled milk mixture and strain through a fine sieve into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place the dish in a larger roasting pan and add enough hot water to reach halfway up the side of the dish. Bake custard for 3/4 to 1 hour until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. let cool; cover and chill for several hours or overnight. To assemble: Transfer pastry to a flat surface. Using a ruler measure out three 3 1/2 x 11-inch strips. With a serrated knife carefully cut the pastry using a gentle sawing motion. With a paring knife cut the custard into two 3 1/2 x 11-inch strips and cut each strip in half crosswise. With a long, wide offset spatula transfer a piece of custard onto a strip of pastry, covering half of it. Transfer a second piece of custard to fill the first layer. Top with a second strip of pastry, smooth side up, and repeat process. If necessary, smooth the sides of the napoleon with a knife so that they are stacked neatly.
• Using a serrated knife carefully slice the napoleon into individual serving pieces. Sift confectioner's sugar over the napoleon to form a thick coating. Heat skewers on stovetop burner until red-hot and brand the sugar with cross hatch marks.
• Recommended drink: 1993 Passito di Pantelleria, Nuova Agricoltura

Steps:

• In a saute pan, over high heat, add the sugar, onions and water, and cook until the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat to medium, add the ginger, salt, balsamic, and red and rice wine vinegars. Cook until the liquid has reduced by 80 percent (1/4 cup), about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat to a bowl and stir in the wasabi paste. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, allowing flavors to combine.
• Put the salmon on a flat surface, and drizzle with grapeseed oil. Combine the ginger, panko, and salt and pepper, to taste, in a small bowl. Generously sprinkle the tops of the salmon with the panko crust, spreading evenly. Add the remaining grapeseed oil to a large saute pan and when smoking, put the salmon into pan, crusted side down. Turn the heat off and allow the crust to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the salmon from the pan to a cutting board.
• With a sharp knife, slice the salmon from top to bottom on a bias, 20 degree angle, then portion pickled onion onto serving plates. Top with sliced salmon and garnish with chives.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the tuna in a nonreactive bowl with the scallions, 1 teaspoon of the chili oil, the sesame oil, 1/2 teaspoon of the black sesame seeds and 1/2 teaspoon of the white sesame seeds. Sprinkle over the smoked paprika and season with salt. Mix together, and then refrigerate.
• Slowly brown the melted butter in a pan over low heat. Brush some onto a single layer of filo, and then fold in half. Brush another layer with butter, fold in half, and place on top. Repeat with the third layer. Cut the filo stack in half on a bias, and then bake on a baking sheet until crispy, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.
• Mix the Dijon with the remaining chili oil, incorporating well. Swipe some spicy Dijon on a plate, with 1 tablespoon of the tuna on top. Place a layer of filo over, and then top with another tablespoon of tuna and another filo layer. Finally top with one last tablespoon of tuna. Top the napoleon with the red onions, cilantro and the remaining sesame seeds.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the beets in a small roasting pan and pour in enough cold water to reach about 1/4 of the way up the sides of the beets. Cover the pan with foil, and roast the beets until they are tender, 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes. To check for doneness, gently insert a bamboo skewer into a beet. The skewer should slide through easily. Remove the beets from the pan, allow to cool, and then peel.
• Cut each beet into 1/4-inch-thick round slices. Cut each slice with a 3-inch round cookie cutter. (You will need 10 rounds). Cut trimmings into 1/4-inch dice and reserve 1/2 cup for garnish.
• In a saute pan, bring vinegar and sugar to a boil. Lower to a simmer and poach beets 1 minute on each side. With a slotted spatula, remove and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
• When ready to assemble, heat the olive oil in a small saute pan. Arrange the slices of Herbed Goat Cheese in the pan and warm slightly, turning them with a small spatula just to warm both sides. This has to be done quickly, or the cheese will melt.
• To assemble the napoleons, place 1 of the beet rounds on a firm, flat surface and begin to layer. Top with a slice of goat cheese, then another beet round, a second slice of cheese, another beet round, a third slice of cheese, and a beet round. (Continue until you have 5 layers of beets and 4 layers of cheese.) Carefully cut through layers, dividing into 3 wedges. Repeat with the remaining beets and cheese.
• To serve, arrange 3 of the wedges, pointed ends facing out, in a circle in the center of each plate. Toss the baby lettuces with the Spago House Dressing and mound half of the lettuces on top of each arranged napoleon. Drizzle 1/2 of the Citrus Hazelnut Vinaigrette around each mound. Sprinkle toasted nuts and reserved diced beets on top of drizzled vinaigrette. Serve immediately.
• Combine the parsley, chives, thyme, and pepper and place on a flat surface. Roll the log of cheese in the mixture, coating all sides and retaining the shape of the log. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.
• 1 (7 or 8-ounce) log
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Pizza, Pasta & More!," Random House, 2000
• In a small bowl, whisk together the shallots and the mustard. Whisk in the vinegars and then the olive and vegetable oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate until needed.
• 1 1/4 cups
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Adventures in the Kitchen", Random House, 1991
• In a medium saucepan, bring orange juice to a boil. Lower to a simmer and reduce until only 1/3 cup remains. Cool to room temperature.
• In a medium bowl, combine orange juice, shallot, thyme, vinegar, and orange zest.
• Slowly whisk in both oils until thick and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until needed.
• 1 1/3 cups
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Pizza, Pasta & More!," Random House, 2000
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the hazelnuts on a medium baking tray and toast for 10 to 12 minutes, turning after 5 minutes. (This can be done in a toaster oven). Remove to a clean towel and rub to remove as much of the skin as possible. Chop coarsely and use when needed.

Steps:

• Sprinkle sea salt on sliced tuna, drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and serve.