Escargot With Puff Pastry Food

ESCARGOT, IN THE SHELL WITH HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• Rinse the escargot under warm water, pat shells dry with a paper towel, then set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the butter, shallots, garlic, parsley, and lemon juice. Mix all ingredients well with a small spoon. Lightly season butter with salt and pepper, until desired taste is achieved.
• When butter is at desired flavor, begin to scoop a small amount of herb butter in each shell of escargot. If there is extra butter left over after each shell has been filled, go back and continue the process, adding extra butter, until all the butter has been used.
• Put the stuffed shells into the fridge and allow to sit for about 20 minutes, giving the butter enough time to solidify in shells. While the shells are in the fridge, set the oven to 350 degrees F.
• When the butter is solid in the shells, remove from fridge and transfer shells into an oven-safe pan. If possible, avoid placing shells on a sheet tray, as we want the snails to cook in the butter as much as possible. Cook snails for 15 minutes, max.
• Serve snails, in shells, on top of toasted pieces of baguette, or in a fresh tomato-based sauce.

ESCARGOTS IN HERBED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°.
• Place pastry shells on a baking sheet and bake in center of oven for about 25 minutes, or until puffed and browned. Carefully remove the scored tops and set aside. Scoop out any unbaked dough and bake shells for an additional 10 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool.
• While shells are cooling, melt butter in a large skillet. Add shallots and cook over low heat until softened but not yet browned, about 4 minutes.
• Add parsley, cilantro, chives and tarragon, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat for about 3 minutes.
• Add snails and cook for 1 minute.
• Add wine and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Add cream and simmer about 5 minutes, until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon snails and their sauce into pastry shells, top with lids and serve.

ESCARGOTS IN A PASTRY DOME

Steps:

• Remove the escargots from the can and drain well. Put them in a large bowl, fill with cool water, and drain, then rinse again in cool water. Drain well and return to the bowl. Set aside.
• In a medium-size saucepan over medium heat, combine the wine, shallots, 1 tablespoon of the garlic, the thyme, bay leaves, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of the black pepper.
• Bring to a boil and let boil for 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and pour the mixture over the escargots and let stand at room temperature until completely cool.
• Drain off 1/2 cup of the wine mixture and reserve. Cover and refrigerate the escargots if not using immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• With an electric mixer set on low speed, beat the butter until smooth in a small mixing bowl. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons garlic and the parsley and beat to mix.
• Add the reserved wine mixture and beat until incorporated. Add the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper and beat to mix.
• Put 8 or 9 escargots in each of 8 (8-ounce) ramekins. Put 2 heaping tablespoons of the butter mixture over the escargots in each ramekin.
• Cut 8 (4-inch) rounds out of the puff pastry with a knife and cover the top of each ramekin with a pastry round. With your fingers, press the pastry firmly over the rims and remove any excess. Lightly brush the pastry with the beaten egg.
• Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake on the middle rack of the oven until the pastry is golden and puffed, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

ESCARGOT WITH GARLIC-PARSLEY BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Using an electric mixer on medium, beat butter in a medium bowl until smooth. With motor off, add wine, salt, pepper, and nutmeg, then beat on medium until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add garlic, shallot, and parsley; mix just until incorporated. Transfer butter to a disposable pastry bag or a resealable plastic bag and snip off end (or 1 corner if using plastic bag).
• Place shells in a single layer in a shallow 2-qt. baking dish and pipe about 2 tsp. garlic-parsley butter into each. Tuck a snail inside each shell, then pipe in more garlic-parsley butter to fill shell and mound over top. Bake until snails are sizzling and garlic in butter no longer tastes raw, 10-15 minutes.
• Do Ahead:
• Shells can be filled 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before baking.