Frozen Cranberry Nougat
- 1 1/2 cups (360g) pure cranberry juice
- 1/4 cup (15g) star anise
- 1 1/2 cups (150g) fresh or frozen cranberries
- Scant 1/2 cup (75g) shelled unsalted pistachios
- 1/4 cup (25g) slivered almonds
- 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
- Packed 1/3 cup (50g) dried cranberries
- 3 tablespoons (45g) Chambord (black raspberry liqueur)
- 3/4 teaspoon powdered gelatin (or 3.3g sheet gelatin; see page 276)
- 2 large egg whites
- Cream of tartar
- 1/2 cup (150g) honey (preferably cranberry honey)
- 2 cups (480g) heavy cream
- Almond Tuiles (page 205)
- Put the juice and star anise in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Add the cranberries and reduce the heat to low.
- Poach gently until the cranberries are tender, but dont let them burst.
- Chill, in the poaching liquid, before serving.
- Heat the oven to 350F or 325F on convection.
- Spread the pistachios and almonds out on a baking sheet and bake until the nuts are hot but not browned or toasted, about 7 minutes.
- Meanwhile, put the sugar in a saucepan and mix with enough water to make a texture like wet sand.
- Cook over medium-high heat to 285F.
- Add the hot nuts and stir until the sugar turns white.
- Scrape out onto a Silpat and let cool completely.
- Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the nuts for garnish.
- Break up the remaining nuts with your hands and put in a food processor.
- Pulse to coarsely chop the nuts.
- Put the dried cranberries and Chambord in a glass bowl and microwave for 30 seconds or bring to a simmer in a small saucepan.
- Let cool completely.
- Drain well, reserving the Chambord.
- Chop the cranberries.
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the surface of the Chambord.
- Put the egg whites and a pinch of cream of tartar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk.
- Start beating the whites at medium speed while you cook the honey.
- Put the honey in a large saucepan.
- Cook over medium-high heat to 250F.
- Microwave the gelatin and Chambord for 30 seconds or heat gently in a small saucepan until melted.
- With the mixer still at medium speed (the egg whites should be holding whip marks, like whipped cream, at this point), pour the honey in a steady stream into the whites, avoiding the whisk and the sides of the bowl.
- Add the gelatin.
- Turn the speed to high and beat the whites until the sides of the bowl feel cool.
- In a separate bowl, whip the cream to stiff peaks.
- Fold the egg white mixture into the cream, then fold in the chopped nuts and macerated cranberries.
- Fill a pastry bag and pipe into twelve Flexipan savarin molds (2 3/4 inches).
- Level off the tops.
- Cover with parchment or plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
- Alternatively, you could spread the mixture in a 9 x 12-inch rimmed baking sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment and cut squares when youre ready to serve the dessert.
- Unmold the frozen nougats and place one on top of a tuile on a dessert plate.
- Garnish with a spoonful of the poached cranberries, some of the poaching liquid, and the reserved nuts.
- Repeat for each serving.
cranberry juice, anise, cranberries, pistachios, almonds, sugar, cranberries, powdered gelatin, egg whites, cream of tartar, honey, heavy cream, almond tuiles
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/frozen-cranberry-nougat-376803 (may not work)