Showing posts with label Techniques. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Techniques. Show all posts

Monday, December 9, 2013

Classic Lattice-Top Blueberry Pie

Big, sweet summer berries are the heart and soul of this classic pie. The filling is thickened with just enough flour that the pie can be sliced without the filling running out. The lattice top is easy to put together if you construct it on a piece of parchment. Then you simply invert the lattice onto the pie, trim, crimp, and bake.
For the dough:




  • 12 oz. (2-2/3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour




  • 3 Tbs. granulated sugar




  • 1 tsp. table salt




  • 6 oz. (3/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces




  • 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) frozen vegetable shortening, cut into 4 pieces




  • 5 Tbs. ice-cold water




  • 1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice



For the filling:




  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar




  • 1-1/2 oz. (1/3 cup) unbleached all-purpose flour




  • 1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest plus 1 Tbs.




  • Juice (from 1 medium lemon)




  • Big pinch table salt




  • 6 cups (30 oz.) fresh blueberries, rinsed and thoroughly dried



For assembly:




  • 1 large egg




  • 2 Tbs. coarse sugar, such as turbinado or white sanding sugar




Make the dough:

Put the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and pulse briefly to combine. Add the butter and shortening and pulse until the pieces are slightly larger than pea-size, 10 to 12 pulses. Drizzle the water and lemon juice evenly over the flour mixture. Pulse until the dough forms moist crumbs that just begin to clump together, 8 or 9 more pulses.


Dump the moist crumbs onto two large overlapping pieces of plastic wrap and gather into a pile. With the heel of your hand, push and gently smear the dough away from you, rotating the plastic so you smear a different section each time, until the crumbs come together; 2 or 3 smears should do it. Divide the dough in half (about 12 oz. for each piece); shape one piece into a 5-inch disk and the other into a 4x6-inch rectangle. Wrap each tightly in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days (or freeze for up to 1 month).



Make the lattice top crust:

Position a rack in the center of the oven and set a foil-lined heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet on the rack. Heat the oven to 425°F.


Remove the rectangle of dough from the refrigerator; if it’s very firm, let it sit at room temperature until it’s pliable enough to roll, 10 to 20 minutes. (If the disk of dough is also very firm, let it sit at room temperature while you make the lattice.)


On lightly floured parchment, roll the dough with a floured rolling pin into a 9-1/2 x14-1/2-inch rectangle that’s 1/8 inch thick. Roll from the center of the dough to the edges and try to use as few passes as possible to avoid overworking the dough. After every few passes, run an offset spatula or bench knife under the dough to be sure it isn’t sticking, and give the dough a quarter turn. Reflour the parchment and the rolling pin only as needed—excess flour can make the crust tough.


Using a fluted pastry wheel or a chef’s knife, trim the dough into a 9x14-inch rectangle. With the wheel or knife, cut 12 strips of dough that are 14-inches long and 3/4-inch wide. If at any point while making the lattice the dough becomes too soft to work with, slide the parchment onto a cookie sheet and chill the dough until firm.


Line a cookie sheet with parchment. Arrange 6 of the dough strips horizontally 3/4-inch apart; these will be the “bottom” strips.


Fold back every other bottom strip to the left slightly more than halfway. Slightly left of center, lay down one “top” strip vertically over the bottom strips, dabbing the bottom strips with a wet finger where the top strip will overlap them. Dab the top strip where the folded strips will overlap it, then unfold the strips. Fold back the other 3 bottom strips to the left. Lay a second top strip 3/4-inch to the right of the first, dabbing with water as before. These are the two center strips. Unfold the bottom strips. Repeat the process on both sides with the remaining top strips of dough.


Press gently where the strips overlap to seal. Loosely cover the lattice with plastic wrap and refrigerate on the cookie sheet while you roll out the bottom crust and make the filling.



Roll and shape the bottom crust:

On lightly floured parchment, roll the disk of dough into a 14-1/2-inch circle that’s 1/8 inch thick.


Carefully and gently roll the dough around the rolling pin and position the pin over a 9-inch glass pie plate. Unroll, easing the dough into the pan. Gently press the dough against the side and bottom of the pan, being careful not to stretch or tear it, and allowing the excess dough to hang over the edges. Let sit at room temperature while assembling the filling.



Make the filling:

In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, lemon zest and juice, and salt. Add 1 cup of the blueberries and crush them into the dry ingredients with a potato masher or fork to make a paste. Add the rest of the berries and toss to coat. Scrape the filling into the crust with a rubber spatula, spreading evenly.



Assemble and bake the pie:

Remove the lattice from the refrigerator. If it’s stiff, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes. Put your palm under the parchment at the center of the lattice. Lift the paper and invert the lattice onto the filling in a swift, smooth motion. Press the top and bottom edges together and trim both crusts so there’s about a 3/4-inch overhang. Roll the overhang under itself to form a high edge of crust that rests on the rim of the pie plate. Using your fingers, crimp the dough into a fluted edge.


In a small bowl, beat the egg and 1 Tbs. water until blended. Using a small pastry brush, brush the egg mixture evenly over the lattice and edge, and then sprinkle generously with the coarse sugar.


Put the pie on the heated baking sheet and reduce the oven temperature to 375°F. Bake until the edges are pale golden, about 30 minutes, then cover the edges with foil and continue to bake until the lattice is golden-brown and the filling is bubbling about 2-inches from the center, 80 to 90 minutes total. (If the lattice is golden-brown before the filling is bubbling, cover it loosely with foil.)


Let the pie cool on a rack to room temperature, about 3 hours, before serving. It’s best eaten on the day it’s made, but you can make it up to 1 day ahead and store it, covered when cool, at room temperature. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.


Herb-Butter Roasted Turkey with Pinot Noir Gravy

To brine the turkey you need space for a 5-gallon pot in your refrigerator. If you have neither the room nor the pot, you can cook the brine in a smaller pan and proceed with one of our alternative brining methods.
For the brine:




  • 2-1/2 gallons water




  • 14 oz. kosher salt (2-1/2 cups Diamond Crystal or 1-1/4 cups Morton's)




  • 1 cup maple syrup




  • 24 bay leaves




  • 24 cloves garlic, peeled




  • 1/3 cup whole black peppercorns




  • 2 small bunches fresh flat-leaf parsley (about 4 oz.)




  • 1 small bunch fresh sage (about 1 oz.)




  • 6 medium sprigs fresh rosemary




  • Zest and juice of 4 large lemons (remove the zest in long strips with a vegetable peeler)



For the turkey:




  • 14- to 16-lb. natural turkey (preferably fresh)




  • 1 recipe Three-Herb Butter, softened




  • 2 Tbs. kosher salt




  • 2 Tbs. freshly ground black pepper




  • 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter, melted



For the gravy:




  • 2-1/2 oz. (5 Tbs.) unsalted butter




  • 2-1/2 oz. (1/2 cup) all-purpose flour




  • 4 cups Three-Herb Turkey Broth or low-salt chicken broth




  • 1-1/2 cups Pinot Noir




  • Kosher salt




  • Freshly ground black pepper




Two days ahead, prepare the brine:

Put all of the brine ingredients in a 5-gallon stockpot with a lid. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, cool to room temperature, cover the pot, and refrigerate the brine until cold, preferably overnight.



One day ahead: brine the turkey:

If already loose, trim the tail from the turkey. Otherwise, leave it attached. Remove and discard the giblets. Keep the neck and tail in the refrigerator. Rinse the turkey and put it in the pot with the brine. Refrigerate for 8 to 24 hours before roasting the turkey.



Prepare and roast the turkey:

Position a rack in the bottom of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F. Remove the turkey from the brine and discard the brine. Rinse the turkey well, pat it dry, and set it in a large flameproof roasting pan. Gently slide your hand between the breast meat and skin to separate the skin so you can apply the herb butter. Slice the herb butter into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and distribute them evenly between the skin and breast meat, completely covering the breast. Maneuver a few pieces between the skin and legs, too. Next, with your hands on the outside of the turkey, massage the butter under the skin to distribute it evenly and break up the round pieces so the turkey won’t look polka-dotted when it’s done.


Sprinkle 1 Tbs. of the salt and 1 Tbs. of the pepper in the cavity of the turkey. Tie the legs together. Fold the wings back and tuck the tips under the neck area. Flip the turkey onto its breast, pat the back dry, and brush with some of the melted butter. Sprinkle with some of the remaining salt and pepper. Flip the turkey over, pat dry again, brush all over with the remaining butter, and sprinkle with the remaining salt and pepper. Put the reserved neck and tail in the pan with the turkey. Cover the pan very tightly with foil and put in the oven, legs pointing to the back of the oven, if possible (the legs can handle the higher heat in the back better than the breast can). Roast undisturbed for 2 hours and then uncover carefully (watch out for escaping steam). Continue to roast, basting every 15 minutes with the drippings that have collected in the pan, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of both thighs reads 170° to 175°F and the juices run clear when the thermometer is removed, 45 minutes to 1 hour more for a 15-lb. turkey.


Remove the turkey from the oven. With a wad of paper towels in each hand, move the turkey to a serving platter, cover with foil to keep warm, and set aside. Discard the neck and tail; reserve the drippings in the roasting pan. Let the turkey rest for 30 minutes while you make the gravy and heat the side dishes



Make the gravy:

Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until foaming. Add the flour and quickly whisk it into the butter until it’s completely incorporated. Cook, whisking constantly, until the roux smells toasty and darkens slightly to a light caramel color (see image below), about 2 minutes. Watch carefully, as you don’t want it to get too dark. Remove from the heat and set aside.



Herb-Butter Roasted Turkey with Pinot Noir Gravy Recipe

Pour the reserved turkey drippings into a clear, heatproof container, preferably a fat separator cup. (Don’t rinse the roasting pan.) Let sit until the fat rises to the top, and then pour out 1 cup of the juices (or remove and discard the fat with a ladle and measure 1 cup of the juices). Combine the juices with the turkey or chicken broth.


Set the roasting pan on top of the stove over two burners on medium heat. Add the Pinot Noir and simmer, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to release any stuck-on bits, until the wine has reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the broth mixture and simmer to meld the flavors, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the roux a little at a time until you have reached your desired thickness (you may not want to use it all). Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Strain through a fine sieve and transfer to a serving vessel.


Salted Caramelized Pistachios

You can make these up to a week in advance. Store in an airtight container while still warm to prevent the caramel from becoming sticky.



  • 1/2 cup salted whole roasted shelled pistachios




  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar




  • 1/8 tsp. fine sea salt





Line a baking sheet with foil.


Microwave the nuts on high for 1 minute so they will be warm when you add them to the caramel. Alternatively, heat them in a 200°F oven while you make the caramel.


Pour 1/4 cup water into a heavy 3-quart saucepan. Pour the sugar and salt in the center of the pan and pat it down just until evenly moistened (there should be clear water all around the sugar). Cover the pan and cook over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves, 2 to 4 minutes. Uncover and cook without stirring until the syrup begins to color slightly, about 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, swirling the pot gently if the syrup colors unevenly.


When the caramel is a pale to medium yellow, less than 1 minute more, add the warm nuts. With a heatproof silicone spatula, stir gently and slowly to coat the nuts with caramel. Continue to cook until a bead of caramel dribbled onto a white plate is reddish amber, about 1-1/2 minutes more. Immediately scrape the mixture onto the baking sheet and spread it as thin as you can before it hardens. When the caramel is slightly cooled but still warm, slide the foil with the caramel nuts into a zip-top plastic bag and seal the bag. Cool completely. Chop or crush.


Tandoori Chicken Legs

These legs get a triple blast of flavor: first from a soak in lemon juice and salt, then from a pungent marinade of spices and yogurt (which also tenderizes the meat), and finally from a bit of butter brushed on at the end of cooking. Removing the skin from your chicken legs before grilling may seem like a
waste of potentially crisp deliciousness, but it helps the marinade penetrate the meat more easily, as does making deep slashes in the meat before marinating.
For the chicken:




  • 2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice




  • Kosher or sea salt




  • 6 whole chicken legs (2 to 3 lb.)




  • Vegetable oil for the grill



For the marinade:




  • 1 Tbs. finely grated fresh ginger




  • 1 large clove garlic, minced




  • Kosher or sea salt




  • 1/3 cup plain whole-milk yogurt




  • 3 Tbs. vegetable oil




  • 1-1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice




  • 1 tsp. sweet paprika




  • 3/4 tsp. hot dry mustard




  • 1/2 tsp. ground cumin




  • 1/2 tsp. ground coriander




  • 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg




  • 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom




  • 1/4 tsp. ground turmeric




  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne




  • 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper



For finishing:




  • 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter, melted




  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves




  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced




  • 1 medium lime, cut into wedges




Prepare the chicken:

Combine the lemon juice and 1 tsp. salt in a large zip-top plastic bag and massage the bag until the salt crystals dissolve.


Pull the skin off the chicken legs. Using a sharp knife, make 2 or 3 deep slashes in each leg, almost to the bone. Toss the chicken legs in the lemon juice, seal the bag, and refrigerate for 15 minutes.



Marinate the chicken:

Mash the ginger, garlic, and 1 tsp. salt to a paste with the side of a large knife and transfer the paste to a small mixing bowl. Whisk in the remaining marinade ingredients. Add the marinade to the chicken legs and massage the bag to thoroughly coat the legs. Seal the bag and refrigerate the chicken for at least 4 hours but preferably 12 to 24 hours.



Grill the chicken:

Prepare a gas or charcoal grill fire for indirect grilling over medium-high heat (400°F).


If using a charcoal grill, bank the coals to one side. Put a 9x13-inch foil drip pan on the grate next to the coals and fill it halfway with water. Replace the grill grate.


If using a gas grill, put a 9x13-inch foil drip pan on the inactive burners and fill it halfway with water. Replace the grill grate.


Clean the grate with a wire brush and, using tongs, wipe the grate with a paper towel or cloth dipped in oil.


Arrange the legs over the drip pan and away from the heat. Grill, flipping once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 170°F, 25 to 30 minutes.


Transfer the chicken to a platter and brush each leg with the melted butter. Garnish with the cilantro leaves, onion slices, and lime wedges and serve.