Thursday, June 5, 2008

CORE Tuna (or Salmon) Mousse / Pate


Serves: at least 4, more as an appetiser

Difficulty: Very Easy

Note - You could substitute 1 1/2 cups of cooked seafood for the tuna, but since I'm allergic to shellfish, I'll leave that testing up to you ;)

Ingredients:
  • 425 g can tuna in springwater (or salmon), drained
  • 1 tsp chicken stock
  • 4 tsp gelatine
  • 4 TB low fat cottage cheese
  • 2 TB lemon (or lime) juice
  • 2 cubes of frozen spinach, thawed (about 80-100g)
  • parsley, a few sprigs, chopped, about 3 or TB
  • sping onion (leaf only) or chives, chopped, about 3 or 4 TB
  • cracked pepper, 1/2 tsp+ (I love pepper and put 3 tsp)

You may wish to add dill - I don't have any

Method:
In a large dry bowl, add 125 ml of boiling water, the gelatin and the stock.
Blend well with stab mixer, add 125ml ice water, blend.
Add cottage, lemon (lime) juice and tuna (salmon) and blend again.
Add the spinach and herbs and mix with spoon.
Put into mould(s) and put in fridge to set

You can set this in jelly moulds, cake tins, ramekins, bowls or something creative (I used silicone patty pans as I don't have little jelly moulds).
It sets like pate - firm enough to slice, yet soft enough to scoop and spread.

Serving suggestions:
On toast, rice crackers, or cucumber. I like Salada 97% fat Free Wholegrain (Core as bread allowance)
As a sandwich spread

If making as pate
You may wish to add a decorative clear layer to top or bottom (depending on whether you are serving in a ramekin with pate knife or inverting onto a plate to be sliced).
Mix 1 tsp of gelatine with 60ml hot water (you may not need all of this mix). You may wish it to be flavoured slightly with lemon/lime juice.
If pouring over top of set mousse, allow mix to cool on counter for half hour.
Make a pretty design with something like: chives or parsley leaves (flat Italian), grated lemon rind, grated carrot, slices of lemon or oranges, canned peppercorns or cracked pepper etc and gently pour gelatine mix over the back of a spoon, so it doesn't disturb your design.
Back in fridge to set.

Once this is set, I do recommend covering it as gelatine products can develop a skin uncovered and also the fish smell in the fridge...

Not on Core? The total points for this is 5 points (not counting toast/crackers etc)

NB: On the tracker, tuna weights is the drained weight - a 425g can drained is only 250g or 4 points, not 7.5!

No comments: