The other day in class we made this classic French dessert called a Mille Feuille. "Mille Feuille" roughly translates to 1,000 layers, which is fitting since puff pastry is essentially thin sheets of dough with butter in between. This dessert may look intimidating, but it was actually extremely easy to pull together which is why I am posting it here.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
To start, make the berry coulis. A coulis refers to any fruit that cooks in it's own juices. It is a great way to use up any fruit you have that might be becoming over ripe. It is perfect for drizzling as a garnish on a cheesecake or other pie, or just as a sauce over ice cream or frozen yogurt.
For 1 cup of coulis (This is a perfect amount if serving 4 people, if serving more double it)
2 cups of mixed berries - I used raspberries, blueberries and blackberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring berries and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture starts to thicken, about 15 minutes. Press mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, using a spatula to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard seeds and skins. Stir in 1 tbsp. lemon juice. Taste and add more sugar or lemon juice if you like. A tablespoon of Grand Marnier is also a nice flavor enhancer if you have some on hand. Set aside while you work on the puff pastry.
You will need one package of puff pastry, such as Pepperidge Farms which is available at any grocery store. The pastry comes in 1 sheet that is folded into three sections. Cut the pastry along the seams where it was folded. Then cut each third in half, and then cut each 1/6 diagonally so the resulting pieces are triangles. See diagram.
If you are only making this dessert for a few people, you do not have to cut the entire pastry. You can use one or two of the thirds and keep the rest in the fridge for another time. If you use it all, this dessert can feed between 6-12 people, depending on whether you serve 1 or 2 triangles per person.
Once the triangles are all cut, place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush them with a little egg white so they have a nice sheen. Bake according to the instructions on the package, usually around 15-20 minutes. These can be served hot or at room temperature.
To assemble, cut each triangle in half lengthwise, so you have two halves that look like a sandwich. Place a large dollop of fresh whipped cream (made with a little vanilla and sugar) or a scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt on the pastry bottom. Sprinkle with some whole fresh berries, then drizzle with the coulis. Place the other half of the puff pastry on top. Dust with powdered sugar and serve. This is sure to be a hit.
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