Rhubarb Confit Mille-Feuille with Strawberry Gel, Orange & Pistachio

April 17 2026

Ingredients (Makes 12 portions)

Puff Pastry

  • Puff pastry – 1 full sheet (approx. 30cm x 40cm)
  • Caramelized white chocolate – 100g (melted)
  • Pistachios – 50g (finely chopped)

Fruit Garnish

  • Rhubarb – 150g (fine dice)
  • Kaikohe strawberries – 150g (fine dice)
  • Orange segments – from 2 oranges (fine dice)
  • Sugar – 2 tbsp
  • Orange zest – 1 tsp

Orange Crémeux

  • Cream – 100g (for base)
  • White chocolate – 100g
  • Orange zest – 1 tsp 
  • Gelatine – 2g (powdered or sheet, bloomed)
  • Additional cream – 200g (cold, for whipping)

Strawberry Gel

  • Strawberries – 150g
  • Sugar – 20g
  • Lemon juice – 1 tsp
  • Agar agar – 1g (or gelatine for softer texture)

Method

Puff Pastry

  1. Roll to 3mm, dock, and bake as a whole sheet between trays at 190°C until golden.
  2. Brush with caramelised white chocolate, sprinkle with chopped pistachios, cool fully.
  3. Cut into 8cm x 3cm rectangles

Rhubarb Confit

  1. Poach rhubarb gently with sugar and zest until tender.
  2. Cool and mix with fresh strawberries and orange segments.
  3. Drain excess liquid. 

Orange Crémeux

  • Heat 100g cream with zest, pour over white chocolate and gelatine.
  • Stir until smooth, add 200g cold cream.
  • Chill 4+ hours, then whip to soft peaks.

Strawberry Gel

  1. Cook strawberries, sugar, lemon juice until soft.
  2. Blend smooth, add agar agar, simmer 1–2 min.
  3. Chill until set, then re-blend to gel consistency.
  4. Transfer to piping bag.

Assembly (Flat Horizontal Mille-Feuille)

  1. Arrange three pastry rectangles horizontally across the plate in a line, spaced evenly.
  2. Pipe orange crémeux between each pastry piece to hold structure and create visual flow.
  3. Spoon fruit mixture (rhubarb, strawberry, orange) on top of each pastry piece.
  4. Pipe dots of strawberry gel among the fruit for flavour and colour contrast.
  5. Garnish with edible flowers

 Equipment List

Prep & Baking

  • Rolling pin
  • Docking tool or fork
  • Baking trays & parchment
  • Cooling rack
  • Pastry brush
  • Saucepan (for crémeux and gel)
  • Blender or stick blender
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk or stand mixer
  • Microplane
  • Sous vide setup or poaching pan
  • Sharp knife or pastry wheel

Plating & Finishing

  • Piping bags (for crémeux and gel)
  • Offset spatula
  • Tweezers 
  • Serving plates or dessert boards