In season, in focus (Part 2) – Roast Poussin with rhubarb, Rhubarb and almond tart

Roast Poussin with rhubarb

Poussin is a young chicken, which has a delicate
flavor.

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour

Serves 2

Easy

Description: Roast Poussin with rhubarb

Roast
Poussin with rhubarb

2 poussins, around 450g (1lb) each

3tbsp olive oil

3 rashers smoked streaky bacon, halved
lengthways

2 small onions, quartered and separated

200g (7oz) rhubarb, trimmed and cut into
5cm (2in) pieces

50g (2oz) caster sugar

2.5cm (1in) root ginger, peeled and finely
chopped

100ml (4fl oz) red wine

250ml (9fl oz) chicken stock

2tsp cornflour, mixed with 1tbsp water

1dsp quince, redcurrant or cranberry jelly

  1. Heat the oven to 200 C, 180 C fan, 400 F,
    gas 5. Rub poussin with 1tsp oil, season and place 3 rashers over each
    bird. Roast for 45 to 55 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, toss the onions in the
    remaining oil, season; add to the poussins and roast for 20 minutes or
    until the edges are slightly caramelized. Remove from the oven, add the
    rhubarb, sugar and ginger and 4tbsp water Return to the oven and bake for
    15 minutes or until the rhubarb is tender. Remove it all from the oven and
    cover with foil.
  3. Make the sauce; discard any fat and place
    the roasting tin over a direct flame, add the red wine and boil to reduce
    by half Add rhubarb juices and stock; bubble for a few minutes. Thicken
    with the cornflour, stirring continuously. Add the jelly and season. Place
    the poussins on warmed plates with 1tbsp rhubarb compote. Pour over sauce;
    serve the rest in a jug.

Per serving: 400 calories, 18g fat (4g
saturated), 19g carbohydrate

Rhubarb and almond tart

Rhubarb has a tart flavor that mellows when cooked.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 55 minutes

Serves 4 to 6

Easy/prepare ahead

Description: Rhubarb and almond tart

Rhubarb
and almond tart

 

600g (1lb 5oz) rhubarb, cut into chunks

125g (41/2oz) caster sugar, plus
extra for sprinkling

40g (11/2oz) butter, softened

3 free-range eggs, beaten

50g (2oz) ground almonds

40g (11/2oz) self-raising flour

1/2tsp almond essence

250g (9oz) all-butter puff pastry, rolled
into a 28cm (11in) square little milk, to glaze

Icing sugar, to dust

You
will need

20cm (8in) deep, round, loose-based tart
tin

  1. Put the rhubarb in a pan with 50g (2oz)
    sugar and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes, until it begins to
    soften. Remove from the heat; leave to cool.
  2. Heat the oven to 200 C, 180 C fan, 400 F,
    gas 6. Beat together the remaining sugar and the butter until pale and
    creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs; fold in the almonds, flour and almond
    essence. Drain the rhubarb.
  3. Line the tin with the pastry, leaving an
    overhang. Spoon in the almond mixture in equal dollops, and then top with
    the rhubarb. Fold the overhanging pastry over the rhubarb, glaze it with
    the milk and sprinkle over a little caster sugar. Bake in the oven for 50
    to 55 minutes, until golden and cooked in the middle. Serve warm, dusted
    with icing sugar.

Per serving: 626-417 calories, 35-23g fat
(14-9.5g saturated), and 68-45.5 g carbohydrate