Dining


Sunday, 08/04/2018 09:28

Paris-Brest

Chef Patrick Ho
Viet Nam News

with chef Patrick Ho from Fortuna Hanoi Hotel

This cake was created in 1910 by pastry chef Louis Durand, upon request from the organiser of a bicycle race between Paris and Brest. The cake has a large ring shape representing a bicycle wheel. Nowadays, the legendary Paris-Brest can be found in all French patisseries and is one of the most popular desserts in the country.

Ingredients: serves 8

For the Pastry Wreath:  

·  1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

·  1 tsp sugar (optional)

·  1/2 tsp salt

·  1 cup all purpose flour

·  4 large eggs, plus 1 large egg for egg wash

For Filling and Decorating:

·         1 1/2 cup heavy cream

·         3 tsp confectioners’ sugar, plus more for dusting

·         1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 

For Pastry Cream:

Purchase or prepare 3 ½ cups according to a recipe of your choice. One is available at incredibleegg.org.

 

Method:

- Make the pastry wreath: Preheat oven to 425 degrees Celsius. Trace a 9-inch circle onto a sheet of parchment. Flip the parchment, making sure pencil mark is still visible, and place on a baking sheet.

- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine butter, sugar, salt, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Using a wooden spoon, quickly stir in the flour until combined.

      - Return pan to medium-high heat and cook, stirring vigorously, until mixture pulls away from the sides and a film forms on the bottom of the pan, about 3 minutes.

- Remove from heat and transfer contents to a bowl to cool slightly, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition, and wait until each is entirely incorporated before adding the next egg. Use immediately.

- Transfer pate a choux dough to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip. Pipe a tiny dot under each corner of parchment, pressing to adhere parchment to baking sheet. Then pipe dough, tracing outline, into sixteen 1 3/4-inch mounds, holding pastry bag upright and keeping pressure consistent.

- Whisk remaining egg with pinch salt. Brush egg over top of pastry wreath.

- Bake until pastry just starts to puff, about 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees Celsius. Bake until pastry is fully puffed and golden brown, about 30 minutes.

- Turn oven off, remove wreath, and pierce top and sides about eight times using the tip of a sharp knife to release steam. Return to oven, and prop door open with a wooden spoon. Let stand for 1 hour to dry.

- Transfer pastry wreath on parchment to a wire rack. Let cool completely.

- Fill and decorate the pastry wreath: Whisk heavy cream, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Separate pastry wreath into top and bottom halves using a serrated knife.

- Spread about 1 1/2 cups pastry cream over bottom ring. Pipe whipped cream in a swirl using 1/2-inch closed star tip. Reposition top pieces of pastry wreath over filling. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Presentation:

Once cooled, unfilled pastry wreath can be frozen, wrapped well with plastic wrap, for up to 1 month. Thaw before using, and crisp in a 350 degrees Celsius oven for about 15 minutes; let cool completely before filling.

You can enjoy the dish at Fortuna Hotel Hanoi, 6B Lang Ha St, Ba Dinh Dist, Ha Noi. Tel: (84 – 4) 3831 3333 – 6435/6437/6413. Website: pr@fortuna.gvn | fortuna.vn.

 

Paris Brest

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