Neven Maguire’s chocolate baked Alaska with chocolate sauce : rte.ie recipes


By Neven Maguire

Celebrity Chef

Watch Neven’s Christmas at Adare on RTÉ One at 8pm on Thursday, 7th and 14th of December.

Ingredients

Serves 6-8

  • 1 x 900ml tub Vanilla Ice Cream
  • 200ml cream, whipped, to serve

Chocolate Sponge

  • 4 eggs
  • 120g caster sugar
  • 90g self-raising flour
  • 30g good quality cocoa powder

Italian Meringue

  • 4 x egg white
  • 225g caster sugar
  • 135g water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Warm Chocolate Sauce

  • 200ml cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp Coole Swan Irish Cream Liqueur
  • 255g plain chocolate, finely chopped (at least 70% cocoa solids)

Method

To Make the Chocolate Sponge

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4
  2. Line a baking tray (13.6 x 9.5in) with parchment paper
  3. In a large bowl whisk the eggs and caster sugar together with hand mixer
  4. Whisk for 3 minutes on full power until light and fluffy
  5. Sieve in the flour and cocoa powder and gently fold in using a spatula
  6. Transfer the mixture to the baking tray
  7. Bake for 8-10 minutes
  8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely

For the Italian Meringue

  1. Place the caster sugar and water in a saucepan over a medium heat, swirling the pot until the sugar has dissolved.
  2. Once the sugar has dissolved allow to boil.
  3. Meanwhile place the egg whites & vanilla extract in a large mixing bowls and whisk until soft peaks form.
  4. Boil the sugar until it has reached 120°C (use a sugar thermometer to check).
  5. Carefully stream the syrup into the egg white while whisking on high speed.
  6. Keep whisking for around 5 minutes until the meringue is thick, glossy and has completely cooled down.
  7. Keep covered in a bowl or transfer to a piping bag until needed.

For The Warm Chocolate Sauce

  1. Place the cream, vanilla extract and Coole Swan in a pan and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally
  2. Gently add in the chocolate and stir gently until completely melted.
  3. This is ready to serve warm or transfer to a bowl and leave to cool completely, then cover with clingfilm and keep in the fridge until needed
  4. Use warm or cold as required

To Assemble

  1. Line a 2lb loaf tin with a double layer of cling film, ensuring an overhang on each side
  2. Cut the prepared chocolate sponge in 3
  3. Place one third of the sponge in the base of the tin
  4. Using half of the tub of vanilla ice-cream, spread an even layer over the sponge. Use the back of a tablespoon to help
  5. Place another piece of the sponge on top followed by the remaining ice-cream, ensuring to spread it evenly
  6. Add the final piece of sponge on to, gently pressing down
  7. Fold the overhang of cling film over the top
  8. Pace in the freezer to firm up for 3-4 hours minimum or overnight is best

To Serve

  1. Once ready to serve, remove from the freezer, open and turn out onto a long plate/serving plate
  2. Pipe the prepared Italian meringue around the loaf ensuring it is completely covered
  3. At this point the Alaska can be returned to the freezer until needed or alternately to serve straight away, use a blow torch to evenly brown the outside of the meringue all over
  4. Enjoy with warm chocolate sauce and whipped cream

Avonmore Raspberry, Cream and Custard Trifles

avon-xmas-trifles-61216

Ingredients

  • 1 x 135g packet rasberry jelly
  • 100g raspberries
  • 200g Avonmore Fresh Custard
  • 180g Madeira cake, cut into small cubes
  • 200ml Avonmore Fresh Whipped Cream

To decorate:

  • flaked almonds
  • Edible gold glitter

Directions

  1. Make the jelly according to the packet instructions and allow to cool slightly.
  2. Divide the raspberries between six decorative glasses and pour over the unset jelly until each glass is about one-third of the way full. Allow to cool slightly, then place in the fridge to set completely for 5-6 hours.
  3. Spoon a layer of custard over the jellies and add a layer of Madeira cake.
  4. Dollop the Avonmore Freshly Whipped Cream over the custard and smooth with a butter knife.
  5. Sprinkle with flaked almonds and edible gold glitter and refrigerate until ready to serve.
    
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Organic Salad with Roasted Vegetables, Salad Leaves and Cheese

Organic-salad-with-roasted-vegetables

This makes a perfect lunch with some crusty bread.

 Serves 4

Preparation time: 30 mins

Ingredients

  • 1-2 aubergines
  • 8 unpeeled garlic cloves
  • 3 tablesp.olive oil
  • 2 red peppers, halved and deseeded
  • 2 tablesp. balsamic vinegar
  • 4 scallions, finely sliced
  • 8-10 black olives
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Salad leaves, generous handful per person
  • 200g cheese

To Cook

Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4, 180°C (350°F). Slice the aubergines lengthwise and mix with 6 of the garlic cloves and 1-2 tablespoons of the oil. Spread out on a baking sheet. Season well. Roast until tender – this will take approximately 20 minutes.

Grill the peppers until well blackened. Cover with a tea towel and leave to cool. Then remove the skins and cut into strips.

Whisk the vinegar with the remaining oil in a large bowl, peel and chop the remaining garlic and add to the bowl. Mix in the aubergines and peppers, scallions and olives. Taste for seasoning. Tear up the salad leaves, arrange on a large platter, top with aubergine mixture and sprinkle with cheese.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with crusty bread.

 

Colcannon Cakes with Poached Eggs and Hollandaise Sauce

colcannon-cakes-with-poached-eggs-and-hollandaise-sauce

This dish would also be delicious served with a slice of baked ham or bacon if you have any leftover. Alternatively, chop up the ham or bacon and add to the colcannon mixture before shaping into patties.

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 450g potatoes, peeled
  • 40g butter
  • 3 scallions, finely chopped
  • A little salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 50g Savoy cabbage, shredded
  • A little plain flour, for dusting
  • Olive oil, for frying
  • 1 tablesp. white wine vinegar
  • 4 large eggs

For the Hollandaise Sauce

  • 2 teasp. white wine or tarragon vinegar
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 100g unsalted butter

To Cook

Cook the potatoes in a covered pan of boiling salted water for 15-20 minutes until tender.

Meanwhile, heat a knob of the butter and one tablespoon of water in a heavy-based pan with a lid, over a high heat. When the butter has melted and formed an emulsion, add the scallions and cabbage with a pinch of salt. Cover, shake vigorously and cook over a high heat for 1 minute. Shake the pan again and cook for another minute, then season with pepper.

Drain the potatoes and mash until smooth, then beat in the remaining butter. Fold in the cabbage mixture. Shape the mixture into four balls, dust with flour and press into neat patties.

Heat a thin film of olive oil in a heavy-based frying pan and add the patties, then cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.

To make the poached eggs, bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the vinegar and season with salt and keep at a very gentle simmer. Break the eggs into the water and simmer for 3-4 minutes until just cooked but still soft on the inside. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain well on kitchen paper, trimming away any ragged edges.

To make the hollandaise sauce, place the vinegar and egg yolks in a food processor with a pinch of salt. Blend until just combined.

Gently heat the butter in a heavy-based pan until melted and just beginning to foam. Turn on the food processor and with the motor running at medium speed; pour in the melted butter in a thin, steady stream through the feeder tube. Continue to blitz for another 5 seconds and pour back into the pan but do not return to the heat. Allow the heat from the pan to finish thickening the sauce as you stir it gently for another minute before serving. Season to taste with salt.

Serving Suggestions

To serve, place a colcannon cake on each warmed plate and place a poached egg on top of each one. Spoon over the hollandaise sauce and add a grinding of black pepper.

Nutritional Analysis per Serving

Protein:   13g 

Carbohydrates:   23g 

Fat:    46g 

Iron:    2.5mg 

Energy:  555kcal 

Auntie Maureen’s Plum Pudding by Neven Maguire @macneanhouse Co.Cavan

Makes 2x 1.2 litre (2 pint) puddings

Nothing beats the flavour of homemade Christmas pudding, but it’s important to get good-quality fruit and it’s best made at least 1 month in advance.

I love plum pudding, hot or cold, with lashings of cream, but the spiked almond custard is even more special. I always look forward to it. A big thank you to Auntie Maureen for this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 50g (2oz) plain flour
  • 1/2 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 225g (8oz) sultanas
  • 175g (6oz) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing
  • 175g (6oz) fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 175g (6oz) light brown sugar
  • 175g (6oz) raisins
  • 50g (2oz) currants
  • 50g (2oz) candied mixed peel
  • 50g (2oz) blanched almonds, hopped
  • 1/2 eating apple, peeled, cored and diced
  • 1/2 small carrot, grated finely grated rind and juice of
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 300ml (1/2 pint) stout
  • fresh redcurrant sprigs, to decorate (optional)
  • icing sugar, to decorate (optional)
  • spiked almond custard, to serve

Method

  1. Sift together the flour, mixed spice, cloves and nutmeg. Add the sultanas, melted butter, breadcrumbs, sugar, raisins, currants, mixed peel, almonds, apple, carrot and the lemon rind and juice and mix until well combined. Gradually add the beaten eggs, stirring constantly, followed by the stout. Mix everything together thoroughly and cover with a clean tea towel, then leave in a cool place overnight.
  2. Use the fruit mixture to fill 2 x 1.2 litre (2 pint) greased pudding bowls. Cover with a double thickness of greaseproof paper and tin foil, then tie tightly under the rim with string. Store in a cool, dry place overnight.
  3. To cook, preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F/gas mark 2).
  4. Stand each pudding basin in a large cake tin three-quarters full of boiling water, then cook in the oven for 6–8 hours (or you can steam them for 6 hours in the usual way). Cool and re-cover with clean greaseproof paper. Again, store in a cool, dry place.
  5. On Christmas Day, re-cover with greaseproof paper and foil. Steam for 2–3 hours, until completely cooked through and tender. Decorate with the redcurrant sprigs and a light dusting of icing sugar, if liked.
  6. To serve, cut the plum pudding into slices and arrange on serving plates. Have a separate jug of the spiked almond custard so that everyone can help themselves.