Step by step recipe

Stage 1

20 min.

Boiling the langoustines

Boil the langoustiens for 30 seconds in boiling salted water, then cool under running cold water.

Shell them and set aside the tails. Keep half the heads for making the fumet.

Stage 2

5 min.

The langoustine fumet

Prepare 1 Bouquet garni and finely chop 30 g onion.

Stage 3

2 min.

Melt 30 g butter in a large saucepan on medium heat, then add the chopped onion, salt and pepper.

Cook for 1 minute without colouring.

Stage 4

1 min.

Add the langoustine heads...

Stage 5

2 min.

... and crush briefly with the end of a rolling pin, for example.

Stage 6

1 min.

Pour in 200 ml water and 200 ml dry white wine, then add the bouquet garni.

Stage 7

5 min.

Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat to its lowest setting and leave to reduce by half.

This simmering will create the "fumet", as the liquids (water and wine) mingle with the flavours of the bouquet garni and langoustine heads.

Stage 8

40 min.

The vegetable brunoise

While the fumet is reducing, rinse and peel 2 carrots and 3 turnips, then dice very small ("fine brunoise").

Rinse the courgette and cut the part with the green skin into tiny dice (you can use the leftover courgette in another recipe).

I have to admit, this is a long, arduous task!

Stage 9

5 min.

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil.

Immerse a fine metal strainer, which will enable you to remove the vegetables quickly.

Stage 10

1 min.

Toss the diced courgettes into the water, wait until the pan comes back to the boil, then remove them immediately by simply lifting out the strainer.

Stage 11

1 min.

Cool the diced courgettes under running cold water to stop the cooking...

Stage 12

2 min.

...drain thoroughly, then tip out onto absorbant paper to wait.

Stage 13

5 min.

Do the same with the carrots and turnips, which can be cooked together, and for 30 seconds longer than the courgettes.

Note: Don't throw this cooking water away - it is now worth keeping.

Stage 14

4 min.

Second-stage cooking of langoustines

Melt 30 g butter in a frying pan on high heat. When good and hot, add the langoustine tails.

Fry for a minute or two until they start to brown, then set aside.

Stage 15

3 min.

The gratin cream sauce

Let's go back to the fumet, which by now should be reduced by half. Strain into a bowl and discard everything but the liquid.

Stage 16

2 min.

Pour this back into the pan (after rinsing out), but be careful to keep back the dregs of the fumet which will be full of sand and should be discarded.

Stage 17

8 min.

Put the fumet back on medium heat and leave to reduce by half again.

Stage 18

3 min.

Add 250 ml liquid cream, salt lightly, pepper and then check the seasoning.

Stage 19

2 min.

Bring to the boil, take off the heat and and 20 g cornflour (mixed with a little cold water) all at once while beating with a whisk.

The mixture should thicken rapidly. This will give us enough sauce to cover the gratin. Set aside.

Stage 20

4 min.

Assembling the gratin

Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C).

Butter a gratin dish and spread the mixed diced vegetables in an even layer.

Stage 21

2 min.

Arrange the sautéed langoustine tails on top.

Stage 22

2 min.

Pour the sauce over.

Stage 23

15 min.

Cooking and serving

Bake for about 15 minutes, until the top is nicely browned (finish under the grill if necessary).

Stage 24

Best served plated up (on hot plates): try to keep the langoustines on top and the vegetables underneath.

Remarks

Nutritional information

How much will it cost?

• For 6 people : 27.60 €
• Per person : 4.60 €

Change currency:

Post your comment or question

You are welcome, if you wish, to comment on this recipe: why you like it or not, what you have changed, what results it gave, point out a mistake or omission, etc. You can also ask a question. I answer all questions (in a broken English, sorry) unless someone else does it before me.
Please feel free to say what you think, I'm always very interested in your opinion. Your comment will appear on line with the recipe, so please write in standard readable English, not SIM or only in CAPITALS, otherwise your comment may be rejected.

Please look at advice for submitting a comment or image (what you should or should not do). By the way, don't type your e-mail address in the comment, otherwise you might be spammed.