Cervelle de Canut
In French, this curious name means "silk-weaver's brain", but don't be alarmed, this tasty "brain" consists of cottage cheese mixed with herbs, vinegar and finely chopped shallots.
The Canuts were the silk weavers in the area around Lyon, France. In the nineteenth century this was one of their favourite dishes.
The Canuts were the silk weavers in the area around Lyon, France. In the nineteenth century this was one of their favourite dishes.
18K 2 3.5
Last modified on: August 1st 2021
Keywords for this recipe:For 500 g, you will need:
- 1
1 ¾ cup cottage (or curd) cheese - 2
3 shallots - 3
2 cloves garlic - 4
chives - 5
parsley - 6
4 tablespoons liquid cream - 7
4 tablespoons olive oil - 8
4 tablespoons white (spirit) vinegar - 9
salt - 10
pepper
How long does it take?
Time required for this recipe:
| Preparation | Resting | Start to finish |
|---|---|---|
| 21 min. | 1 hour | 1 hour 21 min. |
At what time:
- When will I finish if I start the recipe at ... ?
When should I start for the recipe to be ready at ... ? - Work this out...
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 1 hour
Thoroughly drain 1 ¾ cup cottage (or curd) cheese: put in a strainer over a bowl and leave for at least 1 hour.
Stage 2 - 10 min.
Meanwhile, peel 3 shallots and 2 cloves garlic. Prepare the chives and parsley.
If you can, pick a few chive flowers as well.
If you can, pick a few chive flowers as well.
Stage 3 - 3 min.
Chop the shallots and garlic cloves very finely.
Stage 4 - 2 min.
Chop the parsley and chives.
Stage 5 - 2 min.
Transfer the drained cottage cheese to a bowl, add 4 tablespoons liquid cream and beat with a whisk to loosen the cheese.
Stage 6 - 2 min.
Salt and pepper, then add 4 tablespoons olive oil and 4 tablespoons white (spirit) vinegar. Beat again to mix well.
Stage 7 - 2 min.
Add the shallots, herbs and the chive flowers if you have some, and mix these in with a spoon.
Check the seasoning.
Your Cervelle de Canut is ready.
Check the seasoning.
Your Cervelle de Canut is ready.
Stage 8
You can enjoy it on fingers of toast...
Stage 9
...as an aperitif snack.
Stage 10
Or as part of a meal with, say, steamed potatoes.
Remarks
The amounts given are for guidance, so do adapt them, a little more of this or less of that, to suit your taste.
The herbs can be whatever you prefer: parsley and chives as here, or chervil and tarragon, which also work well.
The herbs can be whatever you prefer: parsley and chives as here, or chervil and tarragon, which also work well.
Keeping
1 or 2 days in the fridge, covered with plastic film.
Source
Home made.
Nutritional information
| Whole recipe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Energetic value | Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats |
| 1,207 Kcal or 5,053 Kj | 48 gr | 39 gr | 95 gr |
| 60 % | 18 % | 4 % | 14 % |
| Per 100 g | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Energetic value | Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats |
| 179 Kcal or 749 Kj | 7 gr | 6 gr | 14 gr |
| 9 % | 3 % | 1 % | 2 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 500 g : 2.60 €
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)
 | Cottage (or curd) cheese : You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: Frozen cottage cheese with strawberries, ... All |
 | Liquid cream: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Moist chocolate cake, Croque-monsieur complet, Chocolate mousse with hazelnuts, Mushrooms on toast, French style, Pork escalope with mushrooms and sage cream, ... All |
 | Olive oil: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Beef braised in reduced red wine, Bruschetta, Blanquette of veal, Leek and fresh tuna tart, Individual creamy endive gratins, ... All |
 | White (spirit) vinegar: You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: How to prepare corn salad, Red mixed pickle, How to prepare broccoli, How to prepare romanesco, Provençal remoulade sauce, ... All |
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