Rhubarb Financiers with Vanilla Ice Cream and Poached Rhubarb
Credit: Christopher Hirsheimer
SERVES 8
This is an adaptation of a dish former SAVEUR editor-in-chief Colman Andrews enjoyed at Chapter One in Dublin, Ireland, during his 2006 odyssey to discover true Irish food.
FOR THE ICE CREAM:
2 cups milk
4 vanilla beans, split in half lengthwise, seeds scraped
1 coffee bean, crushed
7 egg yolks
3⁄4 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
FOR THE FINANCIERS:
17 tbsp. butter
2 ribs rhubarb, peeled and cut into 1⁄3" pieces
1⁄2 cup plus 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
3⁄4 cup almonds, ground
3⁄4 cup confectioners' sugar
2⁄3 cup flour
5 egg whites
1 tbsp. glucose syrup
FOR THE POACHED RHUBARB:
1⁄2 cup grenadine
1⁄2 cup port
1 vanilla bean
1 tbsp. sugar
2 ribs rhubarb, cut crosswise into 3" pieces, each
piece then cut lengthwise into 3 pieces
1. For the ice cream: Put milk, vanilla bean pods, and coffee bean into a medium pot and bring just to a boil over medium-high heat. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl, cover, and set aside to let infuse for 15 minutes. Return milk to pot and bring back to a boil over medium-high heat. Strain milk, discarding solids.
2. Put vanilla seeds, egg yolks, and sugar into a medium bowl and whisk until pale and frothy, about 2 minutes. Pour one-third of the hot milk mixture into bowl, whisking rapidly, until combined. Pour remaining milk in slowly, whisking until combined. Put mixture into same pot and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until temperature on a candy thermometer reads 185°. Remove pot from heat and whisk in cream. Strain mixture twice through cheesecloth to remove the vanilla seeds. Chill, then process mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. Freeze until hard.
3. For the financiers: Preheat oven to 350°. Melt 14 tbsp. of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling pan until milk solids have browned, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside to let cool. Wipe out skillet, then melt 2 tbsp. of the butter over medium-low heat. Add rhubarb and 2 tbsp. of the granulated sugar and cook, stirring often, until just fork tender, 6–8 minutes. Set aside to let cool slightly. Combine remaining granulated sugar, almonds, confectioners' sugar, and flour in a medium bowl. Whisk egg whites in a separate medium bowl until stiff peaks form. Add browned butter, warm rhubarb, stiff egg whites, and glucose syrup to the dry ingredients and fold together to combine. Grease eight 2"-deep and 3 1/2"-wide ramekins with remaining butter. Divide batter evenly between molds and bake on a sheet tray until dark golden brown and cooked through, about 40 minutes. Unmold financiers and let cool slightly on a wire rack.
4. For the poached rhubarb: Put grenadine, port, vanilla bean, and sugar into a small pot; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, add rhubarb, and poach until tender, 6–8 minutes. Transfer rhubarb to a plate and discard vanilla pod. Increase heat to medium and reduce syrup to a thick glaze, 12–15 minutes.
5. Drizzle eight warm plates with rhubarb glaze. Arrange a warm financier and 3 pieces of rhubarb on each plate. Top rhubarb with a quenelle of ice cream and let ice cream melt slightly before serving.
Your Rating & Review