Asparagus Terrine
- 2 teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 8 ounces quark or farmers cheese, room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 3 to 5 good quality, jarred anchovies in olive oil, drained
- 7 whole, fresh chives
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1 recipe Steamed Asparagus, cooled, recipe follows
- Toasted French bread slices, for serving
- Special equipment: Spritz bottle filled with water
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 pound fresh asparagus, 1 to 1 1/2 inches cut off the bottom
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Spritz a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with water and line it with plastic wrap, leaving enough excess to fold over the top when filled.
- Combine the gelatin and water in a 1-quart saucepan and set aside to bloom for 5 minutes.
- Put the quark, cream cheese, anchovies, chives, and black pepper in the bowl of a food processor and process for 1 minute.
- Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Put the bloomed gelatin over low heat until melted, about 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat.
- With the food processor running, slowly pour the melted gelatin into the cheese mixture and process for 30 seconds.
- Sprinkle the parsley evenly across the bottom of the prepared loaf pan.
- Pour 1/4 of the cheese mixture over the parsley.
- Top with 1/3 of the asparagus in a single layer, alternating direction of tips.
- Repeat with remaining cheese mixture and asparagus, ending with the cheese mixture.
- Fold the excess plastic wrap over the filling.
- Set a second loaf pan on top of the plastic wrap and press down to compact.
- Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
- Serve chilled, cut into 1-inch slices, along with crackers or toasted French bread slices.
- To store, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
- Pour or spritz the water onto 4 paper towels.
- Spread out the paper towels and lay the asparagus on top of the dampened towels.
- Sprinkle with the salt.
- Roll up the asparagus in the dampened towels.
- Lay the bundle, seam side down, in the microwave.
- Microwave on high until the asparagus is just crisp tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove from the microwave using tongs and carefully unwrap.
- Yield: 4 servings
unflavored powdered gelatin, cold water, farmers cheese, cream cheese, anchovies, chives, freshly ground black pepper, flatleaf parsley, bread, water, water, fresh asparagus, kosher salt
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/asparagus-terrine-recipe.html (may not work)