**Terrine de poireaux: A Culinary Journey of Flavors and Textures**
Embark on a culinary adventure with the terrine de poireaux, a delectable dish that tantalizes the taste buds with its harmonious blend of flavors and textures. This savory terrine showcases the humble leek, transformed into a centerpiece of culinary excellence. Discover the art of creating this classic French dish with our curated collection of recipes, each offering unique variations to suit your palate. From the traditional terrine de poireaux with its delicate layering of leeks and creamy sauce to innovative twists featuring wild mushrooms, bacon, or goat cheese, our recipes guide you through the process of crafting this elegant dish. Indulge in the rich, buttery flavor of the leeks, complemented by a velvety sauce and the aromatic herbs de Provence. Whether served as an elegant appetizer or a hearty main course, the terrine de poireaux promises an unforgettable dining experience.
COUNTRY TERRINE
Categories Chicken Pork Poultry Appetizer Bake Marinate Gourmet Sugar Conscious Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
Yield Makes 12 to 14 servings
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Assemble and marinate terrine:
- Cook onion in butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl set in a bowl of ice.
- While onion cools, pulse salt, peppercorns, allspice, nutmeg, and bay leaf in grinder until finely ground. Add to onion mixture and whisk in cream, eggs, and brandy until combined well.
- Pulse chicken livers in a food processor until finely chopped, then add to onion mixture along with ground pork and veal and mix together well with your hands or a wooden spoon. Stir in ham cubes.
- Line bottom and long sides of terrine mold crosswise with about 6 to 9 strips of bacon, arranging them close together (but not overlapping) and leaving a 1/2- to 2-inch overhang. Fill terrine evenly with ground-meat mixture, rapping terrine on counter to compact it (it will mound slightly above edge). Cover top of terrine lengthwise with 2 or 3 more bacon slices if necessary to cover completely, and fold overhanging ends of bacon back over these. Cover terrine with plastic wrap and chill at least 8 hours to marinate meats.
- Bake terrine:
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F.
- Discard plastic wrap and cover terrine tightly with a double layer of foil.
- Bake terrine in a water bath until thermometer inserted diagonally through foil at least 2 inches into center of terrine registers 155 to 160°F, 1 3/4 to 2 hours. Remove foil and let terrine stand in mold on a rack, 30 minutes.
- Weight terrine:
- Put terrine in mold in a cleaned baking pan. Put a piece of parchment or wax paper over top of terrine, then place on top of parchment another same-size terrine mold or a piece of wood or heavy cardboard cut to fit inside mold and wrapped in foil. Put 2 to 3 (1-pound) cans on terrine or on wood or cardboard to weight cooked terrine. Chill terrine in pan with weights until completely cold, at least 4 hours. Continue to chill terrine, with or without weights, at least 24 hours to allow flavors to develop.
- To serve:
- Run a knife around inside edge of terrine and let stand in mold in a pan with 1 inch of hot water (to loosen bottom) 2 minutes. Tip terrine mold (holding terrine) to drain excess liquid, then invert a cutting board over terrine, reinvert terrine onto cutting board, and gently wipe outside of terrine (bacon strips) with a paper towel. Let terrine stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving, then transfer to a platter if desired and cut, as needed, into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
TERRINE DE POIREAUX
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 5-by-12-inch or 4-by-10-inch terrine pan, and then line it with plastic wrap.
- Bring a pot half full of water with a tablespoon of salt to a boil, add the leeks, and boil for 10 minutes, or until fork-tender. Remove them gently from the water, and plunge them into ice water for about 10 minutes. Drain well, pat very dry, and cut the leeks in half lengthwise.
- Sauté the mushrooms in the butter in a small frying pan, seasoning them with salt and pepper to taste, until they are golden brown-about 5 minutes. Spread half the cooked mushrooms and any remaining butter evenly in the bottom of the prepared terrine.
- Pour the milk into a large bowl. Dip the bread in the milk and squeeze gently to remove the excess liquid. Place the bread, the eggs, the cream, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the nutmeg, and the cayenne pepper in the bowl of a food processor equipped with the steel blade. Purée until creamy and uniform, and pour about a third of the mixture into the terrine. Press half of the leeks gently lengthwise into the terrine, cover with another third of the batter, and scatter on the remaining mushrooms. Repeat, using up the remaining leeks and remaining batter.
- Cover the terrine with aluminum foil, and place it in a baking pan filled with enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the terrine. Bake for about 60 minutes, or until set and no longer wobbly in the center. Once it is cool enough to handle, unmold the terrine by flipping it over onto a serving plate. Slice, and serve warm or at room temperature. You can also cut the terrine into about ten slices in the mold. Then, when ready to serve, just microwave the slices and serve on individual plates.
Tips:
- For a smoother terrine, blanch the leeks before assembling.
- Use a variety of cheeses for a more complex flavor. Gruyère, Parmesan, and goat cheese are all good options.
- Press the terrine firmly when assembling to help it hold its shape.
- Chill the terrine for at least 4 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve the terrine with a simple salad or roasted vegetables.
Conclusion:
Terrine de poireaux is a delicious and elegant dish that is perfect for a special occasion. It is also a great way to use up leftover leeks. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make this dish at home. So next time you are looking for a unique and flavorful appetizer or main course, give terrine de poireaux a try.
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