Vol-au-vent

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Invented in the early 1800s in Antonin Carême’s pastry store in Paris, these round, light, airy puff pastries are baked such that the center part can be removed, creating a cavity that is then filled with either sweet or savory fillings. Carême’s signature vol-au-vent was known as the financière, the filling of which consisted of minced chicken, breadcrumbs, and mushrooms in a Madeira sauce. Today, vol-au-vent is typically served as a snack or an appetizer with either a chicken or fish filling. There is also a Belgian variety of vol-au-vent that can be found in most restaurants, filled with a combination of chicken, mushrooms, and tiny meatballs and served with a side of french fries or mashed potatoes.