1. Gather Your Ingredients
Before you start filling your vol au vents, ensure you have all the necessary ingredients ready. Here’s what you will need:
- Pre-made vol au vents or puff pastry sheets
- Your choice of filling (e.g., chicken, mushroom, cheese, fruits)
- Egg wash (beaten egg with a little water)
- Optional garnishes (e.g., herbs, grated cheese)
2. Prepare Your Vol au Vents
If you’re using pre-made vol au vents, follow the package instructions for baking. If using puff pastry sheets, cut them into desired shapes (typically rounds or squares) using a cookie cutter or knife. Score the tops of the pastry shapes with a smaller cutter, leaving a border.
Brush the tops of the pastry shapes with the egg wash, which will give them a golden and glossy finish. Then, bake them according to the puff pastry package instructions until they are puffed and golden brown.
3. Make Your Filling
While your vol au vents are baking, prepare your desired filling. Here’s a simple chicken and mushroom filling to get you started:
- Heat a drizzle of oil in a pan and cook diced chicken until golden brown.
- Add sliced mushrooms, diced onions, and minced garlic to the pan.
- Cook until the mushrooms are tender and the onions are translucent.
- Season with salt, pepper, and your choice of herbs or spices.
- Optionally, add a splash of cream or a spoonful of cheese for extra richness.
- Allow the filling to cool slightly before spooning it into the vol au vents.
4. Fill Your Vol au Vents
Once your vol au vents have cooled slightly, carefully remove the scored tops. Spoon your prepared filling into each vol au vent, ensuring they are nicely filled but not overflowing.
If desired, you can garnish the filled vol au vents with fresh herbs or grated cheese for an extra touch of flavor and presentation.
5. Serve and Enjoy!
Your delicious vol au vents are now ready to be served! Arrange them on a platter and present them to your guests or simply indulge in them yourself. Vol au vents are best served warm and can be enjoyed as appetizers, party snacks, or even as a main course with a side salad.
Now that you know how to fill a vol au vent, the possibilities are endless! Get creative with different fillings, such as seafood, fruits, or vegetarian options, and impress everyone with your culinary skills.
Remember, practice makes perfect. So, don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t Instagram-worthy. With time, you’ll master the art of filling vol-au-vents and create mouthwatering treats that will delight everyone’s taste buds!