Cervelle de Canut


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.
12K 2 3.5
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Last modified on: August 1st 2021

Keywords for this recipe:
For 500 g, you will need:

Change these quantities to make: 250 g 500 g 1 kg 1 kg 500 g
How long does it take?
Time required for this recipe:
PreparationRestingStart to finish
21 min.1 hour1 hour 21 min.
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    When should I start for the recipe to be ready at ... ?
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Step by step recipe


Stage 1 - 1 hour
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #1
Thoroughly drain 400 g cottage (or curd) cheese: put in a strainer over a bowl and leave for at least 1 hour.

Stage 2 - 10 min.
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #2
Meanwhile, peel 3 shallots and 2 cloves garlic. Prepare the chives and parsley.

If you can, pick a few chive flowers as well.

Stage 3 - 3 min.
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #3
Chop the shallots and garlic cloves very finely.

Stage 4 - 2 min.
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #4
Chop the parsley and chives.

Stage 5 - 2 min.
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #5
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.
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #6
Salt and pepper, then add 4 tablespoons olive oil and 4 tablespoons white (spirit) vinegar. Beat again to mix well.

Stage 7 - 2 min.
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #7
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.

Stage 8
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #8
You can enjoy it on fingers of toast...

Stage 9
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #9
...as an aperitif snack.

Stage 10
Cervelle de Canut : Photo of step #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.
Keeping
1 or 2 days in the fridge, covered with plastic film.
Nutritional information
Whole recipe
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
1,207 Kcal or 5,053 Kj48 gr39 gr95 gr
60 %18 %4 %14 %
Per 100 g
Energetic valueProteins CarbohydratesFats
179 Kcal or 749 Kj7 gr6 gr14 gr
9 %3 %1 %2 %
% 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: Milk, Sulfites
How much will it cost?
  • For 500 g : 2.60 €

Change currency:

Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
Source
Home made.
This recipe uses (among others)
Cottage (or curd) cheese Cottage (or curd) cheese : You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: Frozen cottage cheese with strawberries, ... All
Olive oilOlive oil: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Crispy smoked salmon and herb rolls, Sea bass with Indian spices, Quartet of brassicas with cream , Small ratatouille with , Pork Chops with Rosemary, ... All
White (spirit) vinegarWhite (spirit) vinegar: You can check-out other recipes which use it, like for example: Caesar salad, How to prepare romanesco, How to prepare sorrel, Beurre blanc sauce, Fish petals, vegetables julienne, and beurre blanc, ... All
Liquid creamLiquid cream: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Toffee apple upside-down cake, Pork medallions with "full" turnips, Household cake (Gâteau de ménage), Fish petals, vegetables julienne, and beurre blanc, Tatin apples with mascarpone cream, ... All
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