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Yield: 1 cheese, 6-8 servings
Fromage Blanc
• 1-8 oz. package cream cheese
• 8 oz. ricotta cheese
• 1 clove garlic, peeled, crushed, and chopped fine into a puree
• 3 tbsp. finely chopped herbs (mixture of parsley, chives, tarragon, and chervil)
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 c. heavy cream
Crouton Sticks
• 1 narrow baguette, cut horizontally into 3 chunks, 6" long
• 2 tbsp. corn or canola oil
Roasted Garlic
• 3 lg., firm, young garlic heads
• Dash salt
• 1 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
Fennel Garnish
• 1 sm. fennel bulb
• 1/4 tsp. unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
Double-Cream Sauce
• 1/2 c. heavy cream
• 1 c. sour cream
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• Coral tree garnish
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Jacques Pépin's Graduation Celebration
Fromage Blanc Jean-Victor with Roasted Garlic
This mild, creamy French cheese melds
beautifully with roasted garlic and shaved fennel.
Simple and charming, it can also be served as a classic
coeur à la crème with fresh berries.
Preparation
For the fromage blanc:
Using a food mill fitted with the fine screen, strain both cheeses into a bowl.
Add the garlic, herbs, black pepper, and salt, and fold gently with a spatula.
Whip the cream lightly, until it just holds a peak, and fold into the cheese mixture.
Cut a 12" square of single-layer cheesecloth, and line a mixing bowl with it.
Scoop the cheese into the bowl. Bring the corners of the cheesecloth together,
and tie them to make a round ball of cheese. Thread a wooden dowel through the
knotted corners, and hang the cheese over a pot or pitcher to drain. Refrigerate overnight.
For the crouton sticks:
Preheat the oven to 400°. Cut the baguette chunks into fourths.
Spread oil on a jelly-roll pan. Press the bread onto the pan to lightly
oil on both sides. Bake for 8-20 minutes until browned.
For the roasted garlic:
Remove the excess skin from the garlic heads, keeping intact,
and discard damaged cloves. Place heads in a saucepan, and add water to cover.
Cover, and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Drain and cool. Cut off top third of
each garlic head. Sprinkle the cut side with a dash of salt.
Heat the butter and oil in a skillet. Place the garlic, cut side down,
in the skillet, cover, and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
Turn the heads over and cook another 5-8 minutes, covered. Set aside.
For the fennel garnish:
Shave the fennel bulb thinly (1/16" thick) and reserve the top of the
bulb for decoration. Toss the fennel shavings in a bowl with the salt
and lemon juice, and set aside.
To make the double-cream sauce:
Mix the heavy cream and sour cream with salt and pepper.
To serve:
Arrange the shaved fennel on a platter. Spread the double-cream sauce
over the fennel, and unmold the cheese on top of the sauce. Arrange the
garlic heads in the sauce surrounding the cheese, and garnish with croutons.
A striking accompaniment to this dish is the coral tree,
made of scallions and carrot "flowers."
View Summer Recipes: 1 | 2 | 3
Recipe courtesy of Alfred A. Knopf, ©2001 Jacques Pépin
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 Recipe Slideshow |
It is good to make fromage blanc a few days ahead,
so the taste develops and the cheese gets firmer.
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| Technique Slideshow |
• making a coral "tree"
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Jacques' Tip:
If you want to make a traditional coeur à la crème
(sweet cheese) omit the garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper
and add 3 tbsp. sugar and garnish with berries.
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Jacques Pépin's Graduation Celebration
• Smoked Trout with Egg-and-Pepper Salad
• Chicken Galantine
• Ham Georgia with Peach Garnish
• Red Swiss Chard
• Fromage Blanc Jean-Victor with Roasted Garlic and Coral "Tree"
• Chocolate Cloud Cake
• Cherry-Raspberry "Pillow"
Wines
• Château d' Aqueria Tavel '99
• Bollinger Brut Special Cuvée
• Tapiz Malbec '98
See TV episode description
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