Religieuse

Religieuse

A Religieuse is a French pastry made of two choux pastry cases, one larger than the other, filled with crème pâtissière, most commonly chocolate or mocha. The name of this pastry comes from its resemblance to a nun's habit.

History

The Religieuse is believed to have been created in the mid-19th century by a Parisian pastry chef named Frédéric Boucher. It was named for its resemblance to a nun in her habit, as "religieuse" is French for "nun". The pastry was popularized by the famous French chef Marie-Antoine Carême, who is often credited with its creation.

Preparation

The preparation of a Religieuse involves several steps. First, the choux pastry is prepared by combining water, butter, sugar, and flour, and then adding eggs. The dough is piped onto a baking sheet in two sizes to create the body and head of the nun. After baking, the pastries are filled with crème pâtissière, typically flavored with chocolate or mocha.

The filled pastries are then dipped in a glaze, usually made of chocolate or coffee, and then decorated with piped buttercream to resemble the nun's habit. The smaller pastry is placed on top of the larger one, and additional buttercream is piped around the join to hold them together.

Variations

There are several variations of the Religieuse. The most common is the chocolate or mocha version, but other flavors such as vanilla, raspberry, and pistachio are also popular. In some regions, the pastry is made with a pâte à choux base and filled with a praline-flavored cream.

In Popular Culture

The Religieuse has made appearances in various forms of media. It was featured in an episode of the British television show The Great British Bake Off, where contestants were challenged to make their own versions of the pastry. It has also been referenced in literature, such as in the novel The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, where the character Porthos is particularly fond of the pastry.

See Also

• French cuisine
• Choux pastry
• Crème pâtissière
• Marie-Antoine Carême
• Frédéric Boucher

External Links

• Recipe for Religieuse on BBC Food
• Recipe for Religieuse on Bon Appétit
• Recipe for Religieuse on Saveur