Escargot In Puff Pastry Recipes

ESCARGOT VOL-AU-VENT. GARLIC BUTTER SNAILS IN MINI VOL-AU-VENTS

Steps:

• Mince the garlic and salt together and crush with the blade of a knife to make a paste. Put the butter in a large bowl (or the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), add the garlic paste, and cream together.
• Add the parsley, chives, shallots, pepper, lemon juice, and Pernod or Pastis and mix well. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a spatula to make certain the ingredients are distributed throughout the butter.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour, or up to 12 hours. (Any extra herb butter is wonderful melted over meats or fish.).
• Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). With a small 1/4 inch round biscuit/cookie cutter, cut 24 rounds from the puff pastry and then run a knife around inside the pastry disc leaving a narrow rim - this will be your lid later!. Arrange the puff pastry rounds on the baking sheet. Bake them for 15 to 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and well risen. Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly.Remove the inner pre-scored "lid" and hollow out the middle a little to make a hole for the snail and butter later!
• If using ready-made vol-au-vent cases, arrange them on a well greased baking tray and add the snails as below now.
• Place or gently push a snail in to each of the cooked vol-au-vent cases and top with garlic butter, the butter can be piped or spooned over the snails - if desired, transfer it to a pastry bag without a tip or with a large plain tip. Re-heat them in a pre-heated oven, 450°F (230°C), for about 2 to 5 minutes on a LOW shelf, and keep checking that the pastry is not browning too quickly - what you are looking for is BUBBLING melted butter and NOT burnt pastry!
• Remove them as soon as the butter has melted and serve straight away with a shot of Pastis and lots of paper napkins! (If you have any lids, top the buttered snails with a little pastry lid.).

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.