Avocado “Faux Gras” with “Untamed (heirloom) Tomato Chutney” and Dungeness Crab Brioche Toast Recipe
Executive Chef Colin Moody, CCC of Asilomar, Pacific Grove came up with this extremely popular Faux Gras recipe as an answer to both vegetarians and those who choose not to consume foie gras.

Summary
Preparation Time10 MinCooking Time5 Min
Ready In15 MinDifficulty LevelEasy
Health IndexHealthy++Servings6
Interest GroupHealthy
Ingredients
Avocado Faux Gras-
2 ripe Hass avocados, pitted and skin removed
1 Tbl lime juice
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 sheet of gelatin, dissolved in warm water
½ tsp fresh tarragon, finely chopped
½ tsp fresh chives, finely sliced
2 cloves of roasted garlic
pinch of white pepper
1 cup shell-off pistachios, chopped
1 tsp Hawaiin salt(pink), or sea salt
For the Chutney-
2 cups mixed color heirloom tomatoes, peeled seeded and medium diced.
2 tsp of passion fruit puree, or insides of 2 passionfruit
1 Tbl Champagne vinegar
2 tsp vanilla sugar
Sea salt to taste
For the Crab toast-
6 thick sliced brioche bread, or substitute your favorite bread
1/3 cup melted butter
1/3 cup shaved parmesan, or asiago cheese
¾ cup Dungeness crab meat(shells removed)
Directions
For the avocado-
In a food processor, place avocado, limejuice, mustard, gelatin, garlic, and pepper. Puree until mixed well. Add tarragon, and chives-pulse until just incorporated.
Lay down a 12” by 12” piece of wax, or parchment paper. With a rubber spatula, scrap out the avocado mixture onto the wax paper along one edge-so that you can roll it into a “log” shape.
Now, carefully roll into 1 inch thick log(roll). Gently pick up from both ends and place in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
Lay down chopped pistachios, and spread out evenly on a clean surface. Take out the avocado roll, and unwrap the wax, or parchment. Place the avocado roll on the pistachios and roll back and forth to coat the roll evenly. Wrap this in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator until ready to use-reserve the salt for garnish.
For the chutney-
In a 1 quart sauce pan over medium heat, place the chopped tomatoes, passionfruit, vinegar and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and cook until it begins to thicken, about 30 minutes. Should have a “oatmeal”-like consistency. Add salt to taste, reserve in the refrigerator until ready to use.
For the Toast-
Pre heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut each slice of brioche into 2 triangle pieces of bread and place on a cookie sheet. Brush the
Melted butter evenly on each piece of bread. Put equal amounts of crab on each piece of bread, then sprinkle the shaved parmesan on each piece of bread-over the crab. Place in the oven and bake until edges of bread turn brown, and the cheese is melted.
To plate, slice the avocado log into 6 equal pieces(1.5 to 2 “tall), and stand each piece on end on every plate. Then place 2 pieces of crab toast on each plate-next to the avocado. Then put 2 spoonfuls
of chutney on each plate. Sprinkle the Hawaiin or sea salt on top of every avocado section. Make sure to eat a little of each component in every bite…enjoy!!
In a food processor, place avocado, limejuice, mustard, gelatin, garlic, and pepper. Puree until mixed well. Add tarragon, and chives-pulse until just incorporated.
Lay down a 12” by 12” piece of wax, or parchment paper. With a rubber spatula, scrap out the avocado mixture onto the wax paper along one edge-so that you can roll it into a “log” shape.
Now, carefully roll into 1 inch thick log(roll). Gently pick up from both ends and place in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
Lay down chopped pistachios, and spread out evenly on a clean surface. Take out the avocado roll, and unwrap the wax, or parchment. Place the avocado roll on the pistachios and roll back and forth to coat the roll evenly. Wrap this in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator until ready to use-reserve the salt for garnish.
For the chutney-
In a 1 quart sauce pan over medium heat, place the chopped tomatoes, passionfruit, vinegar and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and cook until it begins to thicken, about 30 minutes. Should have a “oatmeal”-like consistency. Add salt to taste, reserve in the refrigerator until ready to use.
For the Toast-
Pre heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut each slice of brioche into 2 triangle pieces of bread and place on a cookie sheet. Brush the
Melted butter evenly on each piece of bread. Put equal amounts of crab on each piece of bread, then sprinkle the shaved parmesan on each piece of bread-over the crab. Place in the oven and bake until edges of bread turn brown, and the cheese is melted.
To plate, slice the avocado log into 6 equal pieces(1.5 to 2 “tall), and stand each piece on end on every plate. Then place 2 pieces of crab toast on each plate-next to the avocado. Then put 2 spoonfuls
of chutney on each plate. Sprinkle the Hawaiin or sea salt on top of every avocado section. Make sure to eat a little of each component in every bite…enjoy!!
Comments
Comments: 2 |
Add a Comment
shantihhh says :
They carve the center out! Chef Colin Moody is quite a talent! I also love foie gras, but not the way it gets there. I make pates sometimes using a mixture of various livers. Believe it or not pork and chicken liver work well. However this recipe is fabulous-I loved it!
Shanti/Mary-Anne
Posted on: 17 October 2007 - 2:12pm
CookingMyWay says :
Great dish! I'm not to keen on how foie gras is made but I love the taste - this looks to be the perfect alternative! Awesome ice sculpture in the video - I wonder how they got the hole down the middle?
:) Nikko
Posted on: 8 October 2007 - 8:08am