Langoustine gratin
This elegant gratin has a layer of brunoise vegetables in the bottom, with langoustine tails (scampi) cooked in two stages on top, finished with a thick creamy sauce, made with the "fumet" from the langoustines.
This recipe is quite long to make, but can be prepared in stages over a number of days. The end result is well worth all the effort.
This recipe is quite long to make, but can be prepared in stages over a number of days. The end result is well worth all the effort.
67 K 4.3/5 (40 reviews)
2 hours 15 min.
Average
18 people
14 IngredientsLast modified on: December 30th 2019
For 18 people, you will need:
- 1
19 cups langoustines (scampi) - 2
3 Bouquets garni - 3
½ cup onion - 4
½ cup butter - 5
2 2⁄3 cups water - 6
2 2⁄3 cups dry white wine - 7
6 carrots - 8
9 turnips - 9
3 courgettes - 10 ½ cup butter
- 11
3 cups + 3 tablespoons liquid cream - 12
¼ cup cornflour - 13
salt - 14
pepper
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 1 hour 35 min.
Cooking: 45 min.
All in all: 2 hours 15 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
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.
Stage 3 - 2 min.
Melt ½ cup butter in a large saucepan on medium heat, then add the chopped onion, salt and pepper.
Cook for 1 minute without colouring.
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 2 2⁄3 cups water and 2 2⁄3 cups 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.
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 6 carrots and 9 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.
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.
Note: Don't throw this cooking water away - it is now worth keeping.
Stage 14 - 4 min.
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 3 cups + 3 tablespoons liquid cream, salt lightly, pepper and then check the seasoning.
Stage 19 - 2 min.
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
As I was saying, this recipe takes a long time, but much of it can be prepared in advance. Only the assembly of the gratin and final cooking need to be done just before serving.
You will see that in stage 19 the cream is not reduced, but thickened with cornflour instead. This is to keep a decent quantity of sauce without it being too liquid, otherwise it would run into the bottom of the dish.
If you are happy with the idea, you can dispense with boiling the langoustines in salated water in stage 1 and shell them raw before the sauté stage (stage 14).
To simplify the recipe, just slice the vegetables thinly instead of cutting into brunoise dice.
You will see that in stage 19 the cream is not reduced, but thickened with cornflour instead. This is to keep a decent quantity of sauce without it being too liquid, otherwise it would run into the bottom of the dish.
If you are happy with the idea, you can dispense with boiling the langoustines in salated water in stage 1 and shell them raw before the sauté stage (stage 14).
To simplify the recipe, just slice the vegetables thinly instead of cutting into brunoise dice.
Keeping: Should be eaten immediately.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 810 RDI=310 % | 240 RDI=20 % | 490 RDI=70 % | 8,630 RDI=430 % | 36,110 RDI: 430 % |
| Per 100 g | 8 RDI=3 % | 2 RDI=0 % | 5 RDI=1 % | 90 RDI=5 % | 380 RDI: 5 % |
| Per person | 50 RDI=20 % | 10 RDI=1 % | 30 RDI=4 % | 480 RDI=20 % | 2,010 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 18 people : 82.80 €
- Per person : 4.60 €
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)
Langoustines (scampi)
Like these other recipes: Scrambled eggs with langoustines and asparagus tips., Langoustine sabayon tart, Turban of sole with langoustines, Langoustine and leek tarts, Chilli langoustines, ... See them all 6
Liquid cream
Like these other recipes: Breton style shellfish and vegetable soup, Gratin of leeks with Morbier cheese, Cod loin with saffron, Caramelized pear custard tart, Creamy risotto with vegetables , ... See them all 165
Water
Like these other recipes: Provençal braised carrots, Turban of sole with langoustines, Blackcurrant liqueur, Classic French white bread, Sushi, ... See them all 132
Dry white wine
Like these other recipes: Pea risotto "Mantecare", Fillets of sole Dieppoise, Cured Pork Belly With Lentils, Cajun pulled pork, Purple artichokes braised in white wine, ... See them all 67
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