My bestie Emma and I have always liked a good party and quite often organised New Year’s Eve parties ourselves. Although it has always been lots of fun it takes quite a lot of time and effort to do it well so, in lieu of a big NYE party to go to, we decided to go back to basics for once. Just a few people, four in fact. Easy but classic and very tasty food, champagne and nice wines to drink and just lots of fun because you’re among great friends.
I wouldn’t mind a repeat this year, guys!
After watching some ice hockey in the afternoon (the Junior World Championship was on in Malmö) we started our evening with Champagne and canapès consisting of crispy bread fried in butter topped with creme fraiche, Swedish caviar (löjrom), red onions, dill and lemon slices. It doesn’t require much cooking but it is so delicious it still impresses your guests!
Our starter was lobster with melted garlic butter and puff pastry twists. Again very simple, but absolutely gorgeous!
The even bigger hit was the main course with incredibly tender fillet of beef that I managed to buy in a regular (but very good) supermarket (where I also found bone marrow – I was in heaven!). Served rare with a wonderful mushroom crème, tenderstem broccoli, caramelised shallots, Hasselback potatoes and creamy red wine sauce, I think this was everyone’s favourite dish. So so delicious!
I made the same dessert as last year, as it was such a success! Fluffy parfait with chopped dark chocolate and caramelised hazelnuts served with honeycomb and butterscotch sauce. Delicious!
Just before midnight we walked down to the Opera in Malmö where the fire work display was going to be, toasted in some more bubbly, watched the fireworks and went back inside to eat and drink some more. It was a great evening!
The Recipes
Swedish caviar with butter-fried bread, serves 4
4-6 slices of nice white bread
2 tbsp salted butter for frying
1 packet Swedish caviar (löjrom – bleak roe)
200 ml creme fraiche
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
dill lemon slices to decorate
Heat up a frying pan on medium heat and melt half the butter but don’t let it burn. Fry the bread slowly first on one side and then on the other until crispy and golden brown. Add more butter when you turn the bread. Cut into smaller pieces.
Chop the red onion and let it soak in icecold water a few minutes before serving to lose some of the sharpness. Drain before serving.
Either place a dollop of creme fraiche, caviar and some red onion, dill and a small lemon segment on each bread piece or serve in bowls and let people assemble their own canapès.
Lobster with garlic butter and puff pastry twists, serves 4
2 fresh lobsters
100 g salted butter, at room temperature
1 medium garlic clove, pressed
1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
white pepper
1 roll all butter puff pastry
sea salt flakes
lemon slices to serve
Start with the puff pastry twists. Cut the roll of puff pastry into 2 cm wide strips. Twist each strip a few times and place on a lined baking tray. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes and bake in 225C oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden and crisp. Leave to cool. Keep in an airtight container.
Mix the softened butter with garlic, parsley and some white pepper.
Cut the lobsters in half lengthways with a sharp yet sturdy knife. Remove the black vein and any roe. Rinse very carefully. Remove and open the claws and keep the claw meat on the side. Place the lobster halves on a baking tray, spread with butter and place in a 200C oven for about 10 minutes. Serve with a lemon wedge, a fresh claw each and the puff pastry twists.
Fillet of beef with Hasselback potatoes, tenderstem broccoli, mushroom crème, caramelised shallots and creamy red wine sauce, serves 4
1 kg good quality beef fillet, trimmed of any tendons and cut into 3-4 cm thick medallions
1 kg medium Maris Piper potatoes (or another firm type)
2-3 broccoli stems per person
1 batch red wine juswith approx 400 ml liquid
200 ml double cream
Start with the sauce, crème and onions (recipes below). Add the cream to the red wine jus, let it thicken and season to taste. Can be reheated before serving.
Peel the potatoes and cut in half lengthways. Put them flat side down and make small incisions creating a ridged effect with a sharp knife. Don’t cut all the way through and leave 1-2 mm between the incisions. Place the potato halves on an oiled baking tray, drizzle with mild oil and add salt and pepper. Bake until crisp and golden brown, approx 30-40 minutes in 200C.
Brown the meat on all sides. Season well with salt and black pepper. Place in oven on 150C until the inside temperature of the meat is 55C (for medium-rare). Rest the meat a few minutes before serving.
Cook the broccoli in salted water until soft but not mushy. Drain and add some more salt.
Plate with the mushroom crème underneath the meat.
Mushroom crème, serves 4
125 g chestnut mushrooms
1 handful dried ceps (porcini) in pieces
1 shallots, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, pressed
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp Cognac
50 ml double cream
salt, white pepper
Soak the ceps for a few minutes then squeeze out the excess liquid. Chop all the mushrooms roughly. Heat up a knob of butter in a frying pan/sauteuse on mediun heat and add shallots, garli and mushrooms. Fry slowly adding more butter if needed. Once the mushrooms have browned, add the mustard and Cognac and let the liquid evaporate. Add the cream and let the mixture thicken. Blend to a smooth paste using a stick blender. Adjust the seasoning. Heat up again before serving.
Caramelised shallots, serves 4
10-12 shallots, peeled and cut in half
1 knob salted butter
200 ml red wine
100 ml beef stock
2 tsp Acacia honey
salt, pepper
Use a non-stick pan. Caramelise the onions in the butter on medium heat, it takes about 5 minutes. Add red wine, stock and honey and let the liquid evaporate (without a lid) until you have sticky dark brown onions. Add salt and pepper.
Scandelights 