WHILE chocolate desserts, fresh fruit sorbets and fruit tarts re main the classic, ever-popular French desserts, lighter, cookie- based desserts are appearing more frequently. Several Paris restaurants have recently offered sable, or shortbread cookie, desserts. This recipe comes from Jacqueline Fenix, a fine restaurant in Neuilly, a Paris suburb, where the chef, Michel Rubod, offers warm shortbread with sauteed apples and homemade apricot jam. At Tour d’Argent the menu recently featured a dessert made of three layers of sables interlaced with fresh raspberries, all set in a pool of fresh raspberry sauce, while at Jacques Cagna sables came warm from the oven, accompanied by sauteed apples and cinnamon ice cream.
Ingredients
Shortbread:
- ⅓ cup almonds, ground to a fine powder
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- ⅓ cup (3 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup bleached flour
Apple slices:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 tart cooking apples, peeled, cored, cut into thin slices
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Fruit jam
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Nutritional Information
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Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)
336 calories; 17 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 44 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 23 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 66 milligrams cholesterol; 4 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data. -
6 servings
Preparation
Prepare shortbread dough:
- In food processor blend ground almonds, sugar and yolks. Add butter and flour and process until well blended. Remove dough and shape into 6-by-2-inch roll. Refrigerate in plastic wrap for 24 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Roll cookie dough into 1/4-inch thickness, then cut into 18 rounds 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Place on baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until golden.
- Prepare apple slices while cookies are baking. Melt tablespoon of butter in medium-size skillet over moderate heat. Add apples and sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, just until slices are cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- To serve, place 3 warm cookies on each plate, top with portion of apples and serve immediately with pot of jam.
Dining and Cooking