Chestnut & Cranberry Xmas Ring
- Preparation and cooking time
- Total time
- More effort
- Serves 6
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Ingredients
- 50g (1ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂþ oz) butter
2 tbsp Olive oil + extra for greasing
- 1 large Red Onion Chopped
- 1 large Leek Trimmed and Finely Chopped
- 4 Garlic Cloves Crushed
- 500g (1lb 2oz) Chestnuts Cooked, peeled
- 225g (8oz) Fresh Cranberries
- 140g (5oz) Fresh white bread Made into crumbs
- 15g (ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂý oz) Fresh Flat leaf Parsley Finely Chopped
- 2 tbsp Fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tbsp fresh rosemary + extra to garnish Chopped
- 3 Medium Eggs Lightly Beaten
- 550g (1lb 4oz) Bramley apples Peeled, cored & coarsely grated (330g/10oz grated weight)
- 100g (3ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂý oz) Soft Goats Cheese (All soft cheeses work well in this recipe. Try garlic and herb or cream cheese, or leave it out all together if preferred.)
- 565g Ready-rolled puff pastry Thawed if frozen
- 1 Medium Egg yolk Lightly beaten to glaze
- Bay Leaves to garnish
Method
- STEP 1Preheat the oven to 200C / Gas 6 / fan oven 180C
- STEP 2a) Cut a 23cm / 9in circle from a piece of non-stick baking parchment. Cut a 13cm / 5in circle from the middle, to make a ring shape (use a desert plate and saucer as guides if necessary). Make 1cm deep cuts, spaced 3cm / 5 in apart, all the way around the inside and outside edges of the ring.
- STEP 3b) Brush a 12 Litre / 2 pint non-stick ring mould with oil and use the paper ring to line the base. Brush with a little more oil.
- STEP 4a) Heat half the butter (25g) and 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large frying pan until the butter is foaming.
- STEP 5b) Gently fry the Onion, Leek, and Garlic for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened
- STEP 6c) Place the chestnuts in a food processor and process until most are finely chopped but some slightly larger pieces remain.
- STEP 7a) Transfer the onion mixture to a large mixing bowl
- STEP 8b) Return the pan to the heat and melt the remaining butter (25g) and oil (1tbsp)
- STEP 9c) Add the chestnuts and cook for 5 minutes, stirring continuously, until lightly browned
- STEP 10a) Tip the chestnuts into the bowl with the onion mixture and stir in almost all the cranberries, reserving some for decoration, the breadcrumbs, parsley, thyme, rosemary, eggs, grated apples and plenty of seasoning. Mix well
- STEP 11b) Spoon half the mixture into the prepared tin, pressing it down with the back of a spoon.
- STEP 12c) Dot with pieces of cheese then cover with the remaining chestnut mixture.
- STEP 13a) Bake for 40-45 minutes until the ring is lightly browned and starting to come away from the sides of the tin.
- STEP 14b) Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes. Oil a baking sheet
- STEP 15c) Loosen the edges with a round bladed knife and turn out onto an oiled baking sheet
- STEP 16d) Discard the Lining paper and leave the chestnut ring to cool for 1 hour until cold.
- STEP 17a) Unroll one pack of pastry onto a lightly flowered surface. Using a sharp knife cut out 2x20cm strips reserving the leftover pastry.
- STEP 18b) Arrange the pastry strips over the chestnut ring, tucking in the edges with a round bladed knife as you go.
- STEP 19a) Re-roll the reserved pastry (Cook tip 2) to about 2mm thick. Cut leaf shapes from the pastry and mark on veins with a knife.
- STEP 20b) Brush the pastry strips with egg yolk (Cook tip 1). Then attach the pastry leaves, curling and overlapping them to form a number of flower shapes spaced evenly around the ring.
- STEP 21c) Shape several small balls of pastry and attach three to the centre of each flower with a dab of the egg yolk. (Cover and chill the remaining egg glaze)
- STEP 22d) Cover with cling film and chill for at least 45minutes.
- STEP 23a) Preheat the oven to 200C / Gas 6 / fan oven 180C
- STEP 24b) Brush the pastry decorations carefully with the reserved egg yolk.
- STEP 25c) Bake for 40-45minutes until the pastry is risen and golden brown. If necessary cover the top of the ring with foil if it begins to over-brown before the sides are cooked.
- STEP 26a) Remove from the oven and slide gently onto a warmed serving plate.
- STEP 27b) Garnish the ring with the remaining cranberries, the extra rosemary sprigs and the bay leaves.
- STEP 28c) Serve with a rich sherry gravy and vegetables of your choice.
