The AWA International Cooking Club of Hong Kong met up last week for a cooking demonstration with our lovely host Maureen for a Spring Time Brunch celebration.
The menu started out with some Champaign cocktails and bacon wrapped prawns. (shhhh... don't tell Mr. Anonymous)
Maureen demonstrated her cooking techniques and all of her fun cooking gadgets. She has more cooking gadgets than would ever fit in any of my cupboards, but now that I had a chance to use them, I would like one of each. How fun! We all took part on preparing a brunch pizza with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, asparagus and proscuitto phyllo pastry strudel and then finished off with a decadent espresso gelatin with chocolate ganache and coffee liqueur.
The Brunch pizza with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon was very unique. The soft eggs on top of the chewy cheeses and tender salmon was a delightful experience. Topping included capers, chives, dill and shallots and this was divine.
Next, we devoured an asparagus and proscuitto phyllo pastry strudel. With the salty flavor of the procsuitto and the creamy texture of the ricotta and then crisp outer shell of the phyllo dough, one bite and I was hooked. I am sure my teenagers will love this dish.
As a part of a perfect ending to a perfect day, we enjoyed a decadent espresso gelatin with chocolate granache and coffee liqueur. This little dish packs so much richness into just a few bites. A nice balance with the cool and delightful coffee gelatin and the dark richness of the chocolate granache. This little dessert really perks you up and adds a little spring to your step.
3 little words sums up that whole eating experience. "Oh my goodness!" "Is anyone going to eat that last piece?" After all, we did need to make sure we ate something to soak up all that Champaign.
As with keeping with the Healthy World Cuisine motto of unique international dishes that even teenagers will enjoy, I have decided to share with you Maureen's Asparagus and Proscuitto phyllo pastry strudels. As per Maureen, "This savory pastry is perfect for brunch. Spread the filling on the phyllo pastry sheet, and roll them up like a strudel. The filling can be made the day before and chilled in the refrigerator. The strudel can be rolled, up to 4 hours ahead of baking and chilled." However just a little advance warning, if baking for teenage boys, you best double this recipe as it will go very fast.
Asparagus and Proscuitto Phyllo Pastry Strudels
By Maureen Mai
Servings: 8 adults or one hungry teenage boy (Makes 2 rolls of strudel)
Prep Time: 10 mins filling, 10 mins phyllo pastry
Cooking Time: 25 minutes (and 10 additional minutes to cool)
Ingredients:
- 450 grams of ricotta cheese
- 2 XL egg yolks
- ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup chopped fresh basil
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- 1 small package of asparagus (¾ pound) blanched and cut into small pieces
- 90 grams of proscuitto cut into small pieces (1-1.5 packages)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 spring onions, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 10 phyllo pastry sheets, thawed
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 6 tablespoons dry italian breadcrumbs
- parchment paper for rolling assistance (sushi mat would work fine too)
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (180 degrees Celsius)
Step 2: Blanch asparagus in a pot of boiling salted water until just crispy-tender, about 2 minutes. Immediately drain asparagus and transfer bowl of ice water to cool. Drain, pat dry, and cut diagonally into small ½ long pieces.
Step 3: Melt butter into a small skillet. Saute spring onions and garlic until just tender. Set aside.
Step 4: To Make Ricotta Filling: Mix ricotta cheese, eggs, parmesan cheese, basil, parsley and fresh chives in a large bowl. Stir in procuitto, blanched asparagus, sautéed spring onions and garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste. Do not over salt, as the proscuitto is already salty. Cover and refrigerate, if making the day before.
Step 5: Butter large baking dish and set aside. (or use butter spray)
Step 6: Preparing the phyllo pastry sheets:
- Place 2 phyllo sheets on a parchment paper. Brush phyllo with melted butter.
- Top with 3rd phyllo sheet, brush with melted butter, sprinkle with 1 tbs breadcrumbs.
- Top with 4th phyllo sheet, brush with melted butter, sprinkle with 1 tbs breadcrumbs.
- Top with 5th phyllo sheet, brush with melted butter, sprinkle with 1 tbs breadcrumbs.
- Top with 6th phyllo sheet, brush with melted butter.
Step 7: Folding the phyllo pastry sheets:
- Leaving a 2 inch border from the edges of the pastry sheets, spoon half of the ricotta filling along the right side of the short end of the pastry sheets.
- Spread it into a 3 inch wide strip.
- Fold the 2 inch border from the top and bottom sides of the sheets over the filling.
- Starting from the right side, gently roll up the pastry (similar to a jelly roll or sushi roll) to form the strudel. Use parchment paper to carefully help you roll it up.
- Brush the top, ends, and sides with melted butter.
Step 8: Make the second strudel roll just like the first one, using the remaining ricotta mixture, and the remaining 6 phyllo dough pastry sheets.
You can make this up to 4 hours ahead. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and chill.
Step 9: Bake strudels until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Take the strudels out and let cool for about 10 minutes. Cut into think slices with a serrated knife. Arrange nicely on your serving platter and garnish with a light salad.
Ingredients
- ricotta cheese -
- egg -
- parmesan cheese -
- basil -
- parsley -
- chives -
- onion -
- garlic -
- phyllo dough -
- prosciutto -
- breadcrumbs -
- asparagus -
Just A Smidgen says
You've done it again.. tantalized me with your exotic dishes! What a fun club to belong to... and champagne would be the perfect accompanying drink! Bam.. my son and his friends would devour this.. I must make two!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Smidge, I would make "4 rolls" if your boys are joining you... So maybe you could get at least one piece. LOL
Beth says
Those pastry strudels sound delicious! What a fun day you must have had with the cooking club.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Unfortunately I will be out of town during our next international cooking club meet up for Chinese cooking. However, my dear friend Lynn and I have cooked many times together. As a matter of fact, please visit my link to try her Shanghai Huntun. https://www.hwcmagazine.com/2012/01/20/shanghai-wonto-soup/
I am sure you will love it. Take care, BAM
Jasline says
The strudel looks really delicious! So creamy and cheesy! I'm also in love with the desserts - coffee gelatin and chocolate ganache sound so divine!
Healthy World Cuisine says
The coffee gelatin and chocolate ganache dessert would knock your socks off. Rich and creamy ganache on the bottom with a light coffee jello topped with fresh whipped topping and a dusting of chocolate on top. Ok you can wipe the drool off your keyboard now. LOL
Jasline says
Oh Bobbi your description is making me yearning to make one now! And the drool ain't stopping! :p
Karen says
You must have had a great time. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us. I have two savory strudel recipes that I haven't made in so long. I'm definitely add yours to my book. It really does sound delicious.
Healthy World Cuisine says
What is not to love about something cheesy and fresh spring vegetables in a crispy roll. I also think this one is a keeper. Take care, BAM
Kathleen Richardson says
You're so lucky that your hostess prepared these yummy dishes for you and gave you recipes. We're so lucky that we got to hear about your pleasure, see the pictures and you even shared one of the recipes. I love asparagus, in anything. OMG, Bam, this whole blog post is making me salivate.
Healthy World Cuisine says
I am glad that all of you can now enjoy and give this recipe a try. Awesome idea for a Girly Brunch. Take care, BAM
Averil says
They all look delicious and now I'm all set to try out the asparagus and proscuitto phyllo strudel... Yours looks absolutely scrumptious 😉 Shall have to make my own phyllo pastry as you don't get ready pastry in the stores here.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Averil, your living in India now correct? You could make your own phyllo dough or I have an idea. Can you get egg roll or spring roll wrappers? If you can get one of those you could put a spoonful of the filling in the center and then either wrap like a egg roll and bake or wrap it up like a little present by twisting it up at the top and tying it with a little chive and then baking.
Averil says
Thanks so much for the tip Bam... I'll try it out with spring roll wrappers, though I would love to make phyllo dough sometime soon. It's been on my 'To Do' list for ages now and I've had too much on my plate or maybe I'm just procrastinating 😉
muppy says
Looks seriously fabulous 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Muppy, I just visited your website and for some reason it is not allowing me to leave a comment. I will continue to troubleshoot on my end but want to let you know that your fish phyllo wrap sounds amazing. Take care, BAM
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Hi Bam! I want to be part of this group! =D Sounds like you had a great time. The strudel is so unique and delicious. 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Any time Nami-san! You could be our guest host! I really like the idea of a savory strudel.
Jeno says
Bam your culinary skill's amazing! I've never worked with phyllo but this looks very interesting, do you normally find them in the frozen area?
Healthy World Cuisine says
100 percent of the credit needs to go to Maureen Mai, our beautiful host. I was only the personal assistant and photographer for the day. Phyllo dough can be found in the freezer section. You do need to let it come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before use. It is a great item to have on hand as you can make so many things with it both sweet and savory. Take Care, BAM
Korena in the Kitchen says
What a fun event and GREAT menu!
Healthy World Cuisine says
I know we are very blessed to have such a great cooking club!
yummychunklet says
Everything looks great! And it sounds like it was a really fun get together.
Healthy World Cuisine says
We always have such a lovely time together and learn so much from each other.
wok with ray says
The strudels look very appetizing especially with ricotta & Proscuitto, oh boy!
Healthy World Cuisine says
It was a very girly brunch, but I think most all guys would like those strudels (even my growing like a weed teenage boys).