Remarkable sausages have been made in the last three months. Really, you Charcutepalooza folks are making the most amazing foods. And taking gorgeous photos. Makes me want to sit at your dinner tables. Every last one of you.
The Binding challenge will move us away from sausages, and use all those mad charcuterie skills you’ve developed. We’ll be making terrines. Molded, formed, weighted, chilled, sliced, and served cold. And bound with gelatin, egg whites, or natural gel from bone stock.
This month, you have an opportunity to show us what you’ve got. Make the most of the pre-sen-ta-tion (do you hear my French accent? see my arms waving about?)
It’s the perfect month – hot and steamy August – to celebrate chilled charcuterie.
The Apprentice Challenge: Liver Terrine or Fish/Seafood Mousseline
The Charcutiere Challenge: Headcheese, Feet, or Trotters
Make it Pretty
We are not making paté. Not yet, anyway. For now, focus your attention on making either a terrine or a mousseline. (I will admit to being a little confused about the difference between terrine and paté – sources are all over the place in their descriptions.) For the challenge, we’re looking for an emulsified texture, bound, and molded.
You might think of swapping out duck or goose liver for chicken liver. Or using lobster or salmon or sole in the seafood terrine. You want a smooth texture and a binding (gelatin or egg white) to help form the mold. You wouldn’t believe all the images of molded food I’ve seen.
It’s all about the texture.
Your experiences with emulsions in the Blending challenge will help you process the protein to the correct texture. The velvety, light mouth feel is exquisite when done properly. Again, there is a possibility of breaking the emulsion, so work quickly and work cold. Have ice baths at the ready to control temperature. Freeze all your equipment – bowls, food processor parts, and especially your mold. Pulse the processor once the mixture is pureed, stopping frequently to test. It should appear silky and shiny, without graininess.
Release, Dammit.
Yes, that’s what Dennis heard me saying. Sort of Shakespearean, don’t you think? For the most spectacular presentation, unmold the terrine. If unmolding makes you a little nervous, don’t worry. Lining the mold in plastic wrap will ensure an easy release. However, it will not be without a few little wrinkles in the surface that will need to be patched or garnished. I found these sweet ceramic terrines at a yard sale and use them all the time.
Optionally, pack the mixture in a ramekin, a pretty little bowl, or a decorative jar and serve right from the container. It’s possible to use plastic wrap to form a roll, chill and slice discs to plate and serve.
Read Ruhlman’s fantastic Chapter Six. Best Tip Ever – Moisten the inside of the mold before attempting to press plastic wrap into the corners.
If you’re feeling bold, don’t bother lining the mold with plastic wrap. Chill the terrine well, and when you are ready to serve, loosen the terrine by dipping the bottom of the mold (food side up, obviously) into a sink filled with an inch or two of very hot water, then, flip the whole thing over and unmold onto your very best serving dish. Channel Julia and do it all with a big flourish.
Paul, Elaine and I made both of these terrines, start to finish, in about an hour and a half. It’s not difficult or time-intensive work. The real challenge is in creating beauty. Either with plating, garnishes, molding or, in the best of all worlds, all three.
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Chicken Liver and Apple Terrine
3 tsp. unflavored gelatin
1/3 cup cold water
8 oz. butter, divided
1 lb. chicken liver
1/2 cup Armagnac
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and chopped
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
Finely ground black pepper, to taste
Prepare your terrine mold.
Stir the gelatin into the cold water to soften.
Remove the livers from their package into a strainer over a bowl to capture the juices. Examine each liver, carefully, removing the connecting sinew, and pat dry.
Heat one ounce of butter in a large heavy skillet, not cast iron. (I have no idea why, except that’s what my mother taught me.)
Cook the livers on medium high heat, until very slightly browned with no pink remaining in the center. Add the apples and cook briefly. Put livers and apples into a bowl and place in an ice bath.
Quickly deglaze the pan with 1/4 cup of the Armagnac. Scrape up the the bits and pieces from the bottom of the pan and add everything to the bowl with the livers.
In a double boiler, or a bowl set over a pot of boiling water, melt the gelatin. Add the juices captured from the livers and stir well.
Add the bowl of liver, apples and liquids to the bowl of the food processor. Puree to a very very smooth consistency. No lumps.
Add the gelatin mixture and remaining ingredients. Continue to process until the texture suits you.
Pour the mixture into a bowl over an ice bath and cool until just barely warm.
Whisk in the remaining butter, a tablespoon at a time.
Taste and correct for salt and pepper. Keep in mind, foods served cold benefit from a little extra salt.
Pour the mixture into the frozen mold. Fold the extra plastic wrap across the surface of the terrine. Cover with a piece of parchment, and add a small weight. I used a two half pint jars of jam.
Refrigerate several hours until very cold and jelled. Take the terrine out of the refrigerator and unmold, to take off the chill before serving.
Serve with garnishes – something acidic and something sweet. I offered my homemade champagne grape jelly and sweet pickles.
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Seafood Mousseline
Many many many years ago, I owned a small fish market called Porgy and Bass. We offered both fresh and prepared fish, and one of the regular dishes was a layered fish terrine, sold by the slice. One layer was sole and one was salmon, with a spinach and leek mousseline in the center. When sliced, it was pink and green and white, flecked with herbs. This was a very 80’s appetizer and making Charcuterie’s Maryland Crab, Scallop, and Saffron Terrine was like time travel. A million taste memories.
I had forgotten just how much I love a mousseline. And my dinner guests were wowed. This is a delicious summer appetizer, bright, airy, meltingly good. I served it with homemade mayonnaise mixed with yogurt and spiked with a little smoked paprika. Thank you so much, Michael Ruhlman. (And let me say – so thrilled to see Salumi is due June, 2012! Salumipalooza, anyone?)
Use very fresh scallops. They should fill the kitchen with the briny scent of the sea as soon as you start the food processor. Keep everything cold. I used backfin crabmeat and I wish I had used lump crabmeat. I wanted to find little jewels of crabmeat, rather than having the crab distributed evenly throughout the terrine. (By the way, perplexed to see the crab at the grocery store was from Louisianna, Thailand, Chile and Texas. Mixed in? One lone container from Maryland.)
We divided this recipe in half and it fit beautifully in a small Le Creuset terrine mold. The terrine is cooked in a bain-marie and, in a 300° oven, took 45 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 150°. Once cooked, I weighted the mold with two jars of jam, and chilled it for a day before serving. It held for five days.
What do you call head cheese made with pig feet?
I’ve been worrying about this for days. Clearly, I’ve made toe cheese.
When I visited with Bob delGrosso, he asked if I wanted some pig feet. I gladly accepted two fine specimens, promptly put them in the freezer and wondered what to do with them. I knew this challenge was coming, but assumed I would have to get a pig head.
I love Charcutepalooza, I really do, but I just wasn’t that into the pig head. It’s not that I’m squeamish, it’s just makes quite a bit of headcheese. And Dennis? So not into the idea of a pig head floating in a big bowl in the fridge. That’s how I got the idea to make some toe cheese.
The flavors were inspired by a conversation with Chef Collin Donnelly doing amazing artful cooking for the slamming menu at The Red Hen in Lexington, Virginia. At Kate Hill and Dominique Chopolard’s butchery workshop in Virginia, Collin was kind enough to bring a few samples of his work – paté, sausages and other treats – that wowed every one of the attendees. I’ve been planning to run away to Lexington ever since.
Collin called me a few days after the workshop to tell me about a headcheese salad he had just put on the menu. He described aromatics – star anise, juniper, allspice, clove and cinnamon – and a technique (spreading the chopped meat across a sheet pan, pouring the gelatin based liquid over it, and placing another sheet pan over the top, to make perfect even one inch sheet. He had used feet and added a shank for extra meatiness. The headcheese was presented cubed and served as part of a salad. Every word he said got me revved up for head – or toe – cheese.
I brined the two feet for 24 hours, adding aromatics to the salty water. Then I simmered the rinsed feet for about 4 hours, repeating the aromatics, until everything was exceptionally tender.
The feet do not have much meat, and I wish I had added a shank, but the skin was supple and delicious after scraping away the fat and chopping into very small pieces. The tendons had softened and had great texture. And with diligent work, there was meat to be had. It’s important to use your fingers to separate all the parts and pieces. You will feel the difference between something you want to eat and something you really don’t. Trust me.
The broth was very jiggly, with a lot of natural gelatins. I used a frozen plate to test for gel, just as you do with preserves. It was amazing, rich and porky. I was certain of a good set.
Into the frozen, lined terrine went all the meat, shredded and minced, different sizes. The broth was poured in, filling the mold. Fold the overlapped plastic wrap to seal. Chill, weighted, overnight.
This toecheese was very good indeed, and perfectly accompanied by grainy mustard and a black currant preserves inspired by a currant-reduced-to-wine, saucy taste at Jenny’s house, albeit in an entirely different context.
You have a broad challenge, Charcutieres. Knock our socks off – let’s see something made with the head, or the feet, or the trotters.
Charcutepalooza loves our sponsors. D’Artagnan , generously offering 25% off the meat-of-the-month. If you aren’t receiving your email with the secret code for Charcutepalooza members, register here. And the trip to France – an awesome grand prize deliciously designed by Trufflepig and Kate Hill at Camont. Love to Kinetic Web Solutions and @CreativCulinary who helps us navigate technology. And, Armagnac CASTAREDE, providing celebratory Armagnac to our Grand Prize winner’s party in Paris.
Winnie
Ok this one looks really interesting. Will definitely be exploring the naturally gelling options.
Gail
What a set of terrines! Even the ones I don’t think I’d like look gorgeous!
Is there ANYTHING you CAN’T do?
xoxo
Cathy
Thank you, Gail! For the record, I can’t play tennis.
Rachel B.
I have a pig head in my freezer, but Ruhlman’s recipe requires trotters as well, and the butcher shorted us on that when we bought the whole hog. 🙁
Cathy
I made headcheese without the head! Go for it. 🙂
Maurine Fischel
Can’t wait! This is going to be fun. Especially the part about finding a pig head in So Cal.
Larry
Good day! This is realy a great site! Thank you! I need your help!? How do I do a kosher terrine? No pork or fatback! Larry
Maurine Fischel
Larry, no problem if you stick with liver terrines. But you also have the option of beef (tongue!) or sheep. There is even one from Viet Nam made from Chicken feet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_cheese`
Cathy
Consider fish terrines with salmon, sole, cod. (What is Gefilte fish, after all?)
Janis
Heh… I have so much headcheese in my freezer that it is crazy. That isn’t going to stop me from making more. Poor Dr. Food. Between Geoducks and Pig Heads I am surprised he still has been my partner in crime.
Your terrines are beautiful!
gluttonforlife
Still laughing about toe cheese!! I think I can get back on the wagon with this one. Loving me some trotters!
Natalie Sztern
I wish, I just wish you could come to Quebec and take a ride with me down through the small towns we always pass when we decide to go apple picking or even on our way out to the New York State border. It is from these roadside stands that grand-pere ou grand-maman ou tante Lise sell their terrines and their tourtieres all made in their kitchens off the farms. I have lived and loved, was schooled and had children here and never before have I felt such a close bond with Quebec and its history as I have since you began this adventure. For me, it has brought the French-English strife to its very core and why the French are so afraid of losing their identity. It is unfortunate that for the most part, French farmers are not cognizant that the rest of the world in fact has their own history dug deep in their traditions so like those of Quebec
Cathy
How fabulous!
Chowstalker
I was so excited to see the recipe for head cheese, but “Clearly, I’ve made toe cheese.” made me laugh so hard that it made up for my dissapointment in the lack of a head! 🙂
BrianS
Hmm, head cheese? Toe cheese? Drizzle drazzle drizzle drone time for this one to be exposed as a charcutepalooza faker. It was fascinating reading about how some folks struggled with the hotdogs and mortadella as I enjoyed that very much, but ust the idea of head cheese makes me queasy. Guess it’s time to stretch.
Brian
Kimmy
I’m with Brian – the hot dogs were seriously messy but I enjoyed the final product. The terrines though, I’m a little queasy on this round. The seafood one might be ok though if I do it right. Headcheese? Toe Cheese? I’ve had the headcheese before, and while I’ll try anything a couple of times, so not something I enjoy. This should be fun and challenging!
J Harvey
Thank you so much for the idea of “toe cheese”. My son and I have been wanting headcheese for a long time and have not been able to find any in the markets near us. I can easily find pig feet and can’t wait for the chance to get cooking. I might even throw in some other piggy parts while I’m at it. Thank you again!
Cathy
I would definitely supplement with a shank.
kate hill
Now you’re talking my language! Terrines! Pates! Mousse! I am thinking rabbit, duck and …a few secret summer vegetables for a light pique-nique fare. Steady ready…unmold.
Lynn
Toe cheese made we laugh out loud. We’re moving this month, so I’ll probably stick to seafood mousseline – something else I’d probably never have tackled without the challenge. Thanks, Cathy.
Mary
Ha! We served a version of toe cheese at the restaurant when we opened – I called it country-style pork terrine. Definitely get a shank or two next time and then (this won’t be a traditional terrine) moisten the cooked meat with enough broth to make it mud-pie like in texture, mold into a log and then when cold, pan fry slices. It’s sorta scrapple-ish but without the intestinal funk.
lisbet diemer
in Denmark headcheese is an old fashion Christmas lunch stable, eaten with strong mustard and pickled beets on rye. I don’t think a Dane would ever eat it during summer. To make it leaner I use shoulder for my “cheese” and spice it with fresh laurels and in the bottom of the terrine.
trinichad
Made the scallop/crab/saffron and shrimp/salmon last week for light suppers during some hot days – really remarkable (and surprisingly easy) used the immersion circulator to get them to 150 throughout making the cooking more reliable
BrianS
Can this be made with only a shank? I am having trouble finding feet and as you said, a head will make more than I can use.
Thanks,
Brian
Lindsay
I just stumbled upon this site loved it so much went and got a trotter today 🙂
Cathy
Woohoo! Welcome to the charcutepalooza party!
Maygun
Getting a whole pig for this round!
Maygun
So today, I picked up a 75 pound pig from a local, reputable meat purveyor, took it home and butchered it with the skilled help from my very talented boyfriend. We broke the pig down into large cuts and removed the trotters and head. Stock is simmering for consomme and we will be making headcheese tomorrow, not to mention all the meat we will be freezing for future uses. Thank you again for putting on Charcutepalooza. It’s enabled and empowered me to go leaps and bounds Cathy.
Hard Corps Foodie
http://hardcorpsfoodie.blogspot.com/2011/08/pig-trotter-terrine-august.html
Toe Cheese Terrine….. Done. This was a very fun project. Who does not like playing with pig parts?? Cant wait for the next challenge. Check out my blog for other fun Charcuterie posts.
Cathy
Thanks so much! It’s great to get comments like yours.
Carolyn
This month’s challenge was (relatively) quick, painless & easy. My “scallop” mousse line also made for a beautiful centerpiece in a show-stopping potluck dish. Go, charcuterie! http://cpluscdesign.com/gastography/2011/08/16/mousseline-charcutepalooza-challenge-8/
Robin@ Good for the Palate
Vietnamese Spiced Pate for Banh Mi and Toe Cheese on GFP
http://www.goodforthepalate.com/2011/08/charcutepalooza-august-2011-vietnamese.html
http://www.goodforthepalate.com/2011/07/affordable-challenges-pork-terrine.html