Chicken Crepes with Asparagus and Mushrooms

Modify this to make it

Keith H - July 5, 2007 11:40:07 AM PST

I made it. It took every bit of two hours to do and the stack of dishes to wash after making this complicated dish was unbelievable. The filling is the best part, and tastes absolutlely wonderful.

I suggest this variation to the recipe to make it a little more chef-friendly, served with a vegetable side dish:

Chicken Veloute with Asparagus and Mushrooms
Prep Time: 1 hr.

Ingredients

1. 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
2. 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3. 1 1/4 cups milk
4. 1 1/4 cups chicken broth
5. 1/4 cup chopped shallot (or 1 tablespoon of dried shallots)
6. 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms (or a small can, drained)
7. 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
8. 3 tablespoons medium-dry Sherry
9. 1 pound thin asparagus, trimmed
10. 1 package of frozen, ready to bake puff pastries

Cooking Directions
1. Heat 5 tablespoons butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until foam subsides. Whisk in flour and cook roux, whisking, until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Gradually add milk and broth, whisking, and bring to a boil, whisking. Reduce heat and simmer gently, whisking frequently, until veloute sauce is silky and thick, about 25 minutes.
2. Cook shallot in remaining tablespoon butter in a small heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Stir into veloute sauce along with chicken and Sherry.
3. Cut tips from asparagus and set aside. Cut stalks into 1/4-inch pieces. Cook tips in a saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of ice and cold water with a slotted spoon. Scoop out tips and drain on paper towels, then reserve for topping. Cook and drain chopped asparagus in same manner and stir into veloute sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Bake puff pastries according to directions on package or in recipe.
5. Top baked pastries with sauce and serve, decorated with reserved room-temperature asparagus tips

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hmmm

shschreiber@sbcglobal.net - July 2, 2007 02:18:51 PM PST

Great recipe, but not for a quick simple dinner... its in the wrong catagory for sure..

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I thought the title was 7 EASY dinners

katie m - July 2, 2007 02:21:20 PM PST

WOW!!! This looks good, but not simple, quick or easy, plus it calls for a lot of ingredients that most people don't normaly have in there kitchen. Good luck to whoever makes this, I am sure it will turn out great, but me, I don't have the time unless I want to eat dinner at 10:00 at night!

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Make crepes ahead of time.

IndependentThinker - July 2, 2007 02:47:10 PM PST

I agree with those that say this really isn't quick and easy (for a Thursday). But they can be quick and easy if you stock your freezer right. When making crepes just make a whole bunch of them, stack them between wax paper or parchment squares (the squares can be slightly smaller than the crepes, they just keep the centers from sticking and tearing) then wrap them tightly in plastic -grouping them into batches sized for your family. Then the next time you have leftover chicken, like rotisserie, pop the crepes into your fridge in the am (without unwrapping until thawed, they actually thaw pretty quickly) and all you'll have to do is make your white sauce and cook your veg before baking. The bonus is that you'll also have crepes on hand anytime you want a quick and elegant dessert (try a choc square folded inside and heated in a pan with a little orange marmalade!...mmm). I used to do crepes all the time as a restaurant chef but you don't need to be one to have a 4-star meal! Thumbs up for the recipe though, very classic.

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very good

no n - July 2, 2007 01:53:57 PM PST

i am a full time student a full time mom and a full time wife. If prepared ahead of time this meal is a snap, so for those of you who say it cant be done....it can if you are organized. I have 3 children ages 16, 13, and 9. Its not impossible during any week and it is well worth it. Great job on the recipe.

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Gourmet

jasmine k - October 10, 2007 07:22:36 AM PST

For all of you who think this is under quick and easy read again. This is under the gourmet category, not the weeknight dinner category. It was never meant to be quick and easy but something special. Thusrday night is baked macaroni and cheese.

It was wonderful.

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ways to shorten your time

sharonkickboxes - October 8, 2007 02:19:56 PM PST

you can purchase good quality frozen asparagus and premade crepes, and that will help with the time element, or if you prefer to make the crepes, you can make them ahead of time and freeze them.
I found that I had most of the ingredients on hand, and it was wonderful.

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Huh

littlefrou - July 3, 2007 08:34:44 AM PST

Um, the sauce needs to thicken for 25 minutes, the crepes need to be cooked and assembled and baked for another 15 minutes, then a topping has to be made...I think someone mistakenly took this from the "Too Slow and Overly Involved for a Quick Weekday Dinner" section. The point is not whether I am organized or with or without kids or school or work or whatever. The point is that it's a great recipe, but just don't label it "quick and easy" because it's neither quick nor easy. With a lovely bottle of white wine, I would serve this for a date when I have the whole afternoon to putter around in the kitchen.

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This is not a quick, easy meal.

Jean M - July 2, 2007 02:56:18 PM PST

Looks delicious, but I was looking for simple and easy.

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Can

l_kochavi - July 2, 2007 01:51:40 PM PST

Looks like something I'll be making in the near future. The different mix of all the ingredients sounds wonderful, and light but filling. Can't wait to go shopping tonight for the things I'll need to make this.
P.S. Stop rating recipes after not having tried them, or based on prep time alone. Really, you're rating the quality of the food, not the ease of the recipe.

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Not a Thursday recipe, but...

jjasherman - April 10, 2007 07:53:28 AM PST

sounds delicious! Always looking for something a little out of the ordinary. We'll be trying this on Saturday.
Maybe a stay-at-home parent with no children to deal with in the afternoon could do this on a Thursday :)

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Not at all simple...

jkmae - April 9, 2007 09:23:50 PM PST

Perhaps a "simple" misunderstanding of the American two income houshold culture, I'm afraid. Not going to happen on a Thursday. Sunday maybe...

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Simple recipe?

giantskingsninersfan - April 9, 2007 09:09:12 PM PST

You call 2 hours prep time a simple recipe? Sheesh, what do you consider a difficult recipe?!?!

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