Beet Parfait

Name: Beet Parfait
Yield: serves 14 to 15
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons (200g) all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup (25g) unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Valrhona); 1 teaspoon (2g) ground cloves; 2 1/2 teaspoons (5g) freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon (2g) coarse salt; 8 tablespoons (115g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces; 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon (115g) sugar; 2 large beets; 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (150g) heavy cream; 1/2 teaspoon powdered gelatin (or 2.25g sheet gelatin; see page 276); 1/3 cup (80g) beet juice; 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons (35g) sugar; 3 large egg yolks; 1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped; 12 ounces (340g) fresh raspberries; 1/2 cup (125g) beet juice; 2/3 teaspoons (2.5g) agar; 1/4 cup (50g) sugar; 1/4 teaspoon (1g) agar; 1 cup plus 2 teaspoons (250g) whole milk; 2 ounces (57g) bittersweet chocolate (preferably Valrhona Manjari 64% cacao), chopped; Cacao nibs; Micro beet greens (optional); Yogurt powder (optional; see Note); Beet powder (optional)

December 9, 2011

Beets and raspberries complement each other perfectly, covering sweet and acidic, earthy and bright flavors. The chocolate in this dessert is the secondary flavor, reinforcing the earthiness of the beets and bringing two additional textures to the plate.

Cooks' Note

Yogurt powder and beet powder are available from Terra Spice Company.

Recipe notes

Caramelized Onion Pasta

Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Mascarpone Cheesecake

An extra-silky filling (no water bath needed!) and a smooth sour cream topping make this the ultimate cheesecake.

Golden Mushroom Soup With Orzo & a Pat of Butter

This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Crème Anglaise

The silky French vanilla sauce that goes with everything.