Vol-au-vent


Vol-au-vent
The classic vol-au-vent of French cuisine consists of a very light puff pastry case (supposedly so light that it could fly off in the lightest puff of wind) with a cream-based filling.

There are many different recipes for fillings. This version uses bacon, chicken, mushrooms and leeks.
135K 41 4.1
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Last modified on: October 20th 2013

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For 4 people, you will need:

Change to the quantities for: 2 people 4 people 8 people 12 people
How long does it take?
Time required for this recipe:
PreparationCookingStart to finish
40 min.43 min.1 hour 23 min.
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Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - 20 min.
Vol-au-vent

Stage 2 - 5 min.
Vol-au-vent
Pour 2 tablespoonsful of olive oil into a frying pan on medium heat. When hot, add the chopped onion, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute without colouring.

Add the leek, salt and pepper again, stir well and cook until the leek is just cooked but still a fresh green.

Set aside.

Stage 3 - 5 min.
Vol-au-vent
Wash and chop the mushrooms into small pieces (these are shiitake, but you can use others, particularly wild ones: morels, chanterelles, etc.).

Stage 4 - 5 min.
Vol-au-vent
Using the same pan on medium heat, pour in 2 tablespoonsful of olive oil. When hot, add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook briefly (they should not have time to soften much).

At the last minute, add the juice of half a lemon.

Set aside.

Stage 5 - 8 min.
Vol-au-vent
Still using the same pan, fry 150 g small pieces of bacon.

At the last minute, add 1 tablespoon vinegar.

Set aside.

Stage 6 - 10 min.
Vol-au-vent
Cut 200 g chicken breast into small pieces.

Pour 2 tablespoonsful of olive oil into the frying pan and fry the chicken pieces after seasoning.

Stage 7 - 2 min.
Vol-au-vent
When they are browned, tip the bacon and mushrooms back into the pan on top.

Stage 8 - 15 min.
Vol-au-vent
Add 250 ml cream, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.

Heat the oven to 360°F (180°C) and heat the plates.

Stage 9 - 5 min.
Vol-au-vent
Leave the sauce to reduce on low heat.

.When the mixture has thickened, add the leek then turn off the heat (this will help the leek to stay green).

Stage 10 - 8 min.
Vol-au-vent
Reheat the 4 vol-au-vents cases for 5 minutes in the oven. Place a pastry case on each plate and fill until slightly overflowing.

Serve immediately on its own or with pilau rice, for example.
Remarks
The vol-au-vent was invented by the great chef Antonin Carême in the early 19th century.

I maintain (admittedly with a certain caution) that the French "bouchées à la reine" (literally, the Queen's mouthfuls) are simply small, bite-sized vol-au-vents.
And to drink?
A light Beaujolais.
Keeping
The filling will keep for several days in the fridge, but once the vol-au-vent is filled, only a few
Source
Home made.
Nutritional information
Whole recipe
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
3,030 Kcal or 12,686 Kj77 gr59 gr276 gr
152 %30 %6 %42 %
Per 100 g
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
212 Kcal or 888 Kj5 gr4 gr19 gr
11 %2 %<1 %3 %
Per person
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
758 Kcal or 3,174 Kj19 gr15 gr69 gr
38 %7 %1 %10 %
% are calculated relative to a Recommended Dietary Intake or RDI of 2000 k-calories or 8400 k-joules by day for a woman (change to a man).
Possible allergens in this recipe: Sulfites, Milk, Gluten, Egg
How much will it cost?
  • For 4 people : 7.61 €
  • Per person : 1.90 €

Change currency:

Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
MushroomsMushrooms: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Crispy potato and mushroom brik rolls, Nanou's tuna tart, Smoked haddock and leek fondue tartines, Sauce Normande (for fish), "Land and sea" kebabs, ... All
CreamCream: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Nanou's apple and almond cake, Alpine gratin, Gratin of beet tops and potatoes, Cream and herb dressing, Spinach à la Lorraine, ... All
Chicken breastChicken breast: You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: Chinese Soup, Sautéed turmeric chicken with mushrooms, Taos hotpot, Couscous, Chinese style chicken, ... All
Small pieces of baconSmall pieces of bacon: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: How to cook bacon and remove excess fat, Special Cheese and Walnut Sticks, Chicken pie, Rabbit with mustard, Gratin du Nord, ... All
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