The supper bonus / Recipe 12
Bonus 12 of 25 · Cold gelatin main course
Chicken Lentil and Carrot Supper Ring
One approximately 6-cup (1.4–1.6-liter) mold; 4 cold main-course portions
Chicken, green lentils and carrots make a modestly spiced cold supper ring. Coriander and cumin scent the stock without turning the gel into a thick sauce. This recipe starts with fully cooked, safely chilled ingredients; their earlier cooking and cooling time is additional.
Active and total times begin with cooked, chilled meat or fish and cooked, chilled vegetables or grain. Preparing and chilling those starting ingredients adds time.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fully cooked chicken (450 g), diced
- ½ cup cooked green lentils (100 g), drained
- 1 cup cooked carrot dice (125 g), drained
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander (1 g)
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin (1 g)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (15 ml)
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken stock (720 ml), prepared ready-to-use strength
- 3 standard ¼-ounce envelopes unflavored powdered gelatin (21 g total)
- ¼ teaspoon neutral oil (1.25 ml), for wiping mold
Method
- If starting raw, cook poultry to 165°F (74°C) in its thickest part. Refrigerate promptly in a shallow container; weigh 450 g cooked meat once cold. Raw and cooked boards and utensils must stay separate.
- Check that every cooked ingredient is at 40°F (4°C) or below and its original storage deadline remains valid through service. Cook any vegetables or grain that are not ready to eat according to their package or until fully tender, drain, cool promptly in shallow containers and refrigerate before weighing the listed cooked amount. Canned beans and jarred vegetables are drained as listed. Measure the empty mold with water, dry it and wipe with the stated oil.
- Pour ½ cup (120 ml) of the measured cold stock into the saucepan. Sprinkle the 21 g gelatin over the surface and leave 5–10 minutes. Add the remaining 2½ cups (600 ml) stock. Warm gently, stirring, to about 120–140°F (50–60°C), until completely dissolved; do not boil. Stir in the listed vinegar or citrus juice, mustard or prepared horseradish if present, and dried spices and pepper. Keep fresh herbs, dried fruit, olives, meat and vegetables cold for the folding step.
- Stand the saucepan in a bowl of ice water, keeping water out of the food. Stir until cool and lightly syrupy, about 15–25 minutes. Fold in the cold meat or fish, vegetables or grain, and any listed fresh herbs, dried fruit or olives. If the pieces sink at once, refrigerate briefly and stir every 5 minutes until they remain suspended; do not let the mixture become firm in the bowl.
- Spoon into the prepared mold, leaving at least ½ inch (1.25 cm) headroom. Cover and refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below for at least 8 hours, until firm throughout. Refrigerate excess separately in a covered shallow dish. The 11-hour schedule includes the short assembly and cooling stages plus a generous final chilling allowance; it starts with cooked, cold ingredients.
- For unmolding, dip only the outside in warm water, about 100°F (38°C), for 5–8 seconds. Keep water off the food. Dry the outside, loosen the upper edge gently and invert onto a cold platter. Repeat a brief dip if needed; do not shake forcefully. Cut into 4 portions and serve cold. Serve 4 cold wedges with warm pita and a cucumber salad.
Storage & serving
Cover and refrigerate at 40°F (4°C) or below. Use within 2 days of assembly AND within 3 days of the oldest cooked meat, seafood, rice or vegetable ingredient, or its earlier label deadline. The overnight set counts; assembly does not restart any ingredient clock. Keep cumulative unrefrigerated preparation and service under 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C); discard food exceeding those limits. Do not freeze the finished gel.
Allergens: None of the nine major US allergens in the base ingredients. Check the actual stock, gelatin source, prepared meat or fish and condiments for additional allergens and cross-contact information. Mustard is an allergen in some countries. Suggested side dishes are separate and have their own allergens.
Cook’s notes
Original retro-inspired recipe developed for this collection; physical kitchen testing is not claimed. The 21 g powdered gelatin binds 720 ml stock and roughly 675 g drained meat, fish and vegetables. Use a measured 2-liter mold for the estimated 1.4–1.6-liter finished mixture and put excess in a separate covered dish. A new gelatin brand may set differently; its plain-liquid benchmark should be 7 g per 500 ml. Serve a cold portion with the separately suggested accompaniments.
A dinner portion, served cold
Serve 4 cold wedges with warm pita and a cucumber salad. The listed side dishes are serving suggestions, not included in the measured mold ingredients or yield. Slice straight from the refrigerator; warming this gelatin dish melts its structure.
Use lentils that retain their shape
Green lentils should be fully cooked but not collapsing. Drain well and chill promptly; red split lentils are not a direct replacement because they turn into a puree.
Equipment
- Scale, measuring jug and spoons
- Clean knife and board
- Small saucepan and whisk
- Large mixing bowl
- Metal ring mold of at least 8½ cups (2 liters), measured capacity
- Food thermometer
- Shallow cooling containers
- Refrigerator
- Cold serving platter
Variations
- Replace carrots with 125 g cooked diced butternut squash.
Gelatin strength
Use unflavored food-grade powdered gelatin whose manufacturer benchmark is 7 g for approximately 2 cups (500 ml) plain liquid. Weigh the gelatin; flavored dessert mix, collagen powder, agar and sheets are not direct substitutes.
Cold dinner service
A gelatin mold is served cold. Its substantial meat portion does not make it shelf stable. Serve the warm accompaniment separately and return the mold to refrigeration promptly.
Mold Magic / free online supper bonus 12. Recipe: https://incoprea.com/mold-magic/bonus-dinners/087-chicken-lentil-and-carrot-supper-ring.html