Traditional French Green Garlic Butter With Pastis Recipes

MOULES FARCIES GRATINEES - FRENCH MUSSELS W/GREEN GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 4 cups water with 3 tablespoons salt and stir to dissolve the salt. Add the mussels and let stand for about 1 hour to rid the mussels of any bits of sand, then drain well. Place the mussels in a clean bowl and refrigerate, uncovered, for up to 1 day.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Arrange the mussels in a single layer in a shallow baking pan, discarding any that do not close to the touch, and add the shallots and wine. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake just until the shells open, about 10 minutes. Remove the mussels from the oven and let cool in the pan. Remove the mussels from the wine, discarding any that failed to open, and discard the wine (or strain through a fine-mesh sieve and reserve for adding to a fish soup or stew). Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, in a food processor, process the bread pieces until they form coarse crumbs. Measure out 1 cup and set aside; reserve the remainder for another use.
• Make the green garlic butter, if using. (see recipe #299317,optional).
• Working with one mussel at a time, pull off and discard the top shell and run a small, sharp knife around the mussel meat to free it from the bottom shell. Lay the mussels, still in their bottom shells, in a single layer in the baking pan. Spoon an equal amount of the green garlic butter (recipe #299317, optional) onto each mussel and sprinkle the crumbs generously on top.
• Return the mussels to the oven and bake until the tops are sizzling, the butter is melted and fragrant, and the crumbs are crisp, about 8-10 minutes.
• Transfer to a platter and serve at once, with the lemon wedges on the side.
• Good with a crisp, chilled white wine such as Muscadet or Sancerre!
• Note: Makes six servings as an appetizer, or about three main dish servings.

TRADITIONAL FRENCH GREEN GARLIC BUTTER WITH PASTIS

Steps:

• In a food processor, process the garlic until pureed, then add the parsley and process until finely minced mixture forms.
• Cut the butter into 3 or 4 pieces and add to the parsley mixture along with the green onions, tarragon, and pastis. Process until combined.
• Add the olive oil, lemon juice, and enough cream to create a soft, fluffy mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon an equal amount of the green garlic butter on to each precooked and open mussel (see mussels recipe #299761), sprinkle breadcrumbs generously on top. Bake at 400 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, until butter is melted and fragrant, and the crumbs are crisp. Makes enough for 3 lbs. mussels. (Alternatively, you can transfer butter mixture to a small saucepan and heat through on medium to medium-high heat for 5-8 minutes, stirring frequently and being careful not to burn, until butter is melted and fragrant. Drizzle over seafood of your choice).
• Serve with fresh lemon wedges, slices of French bread for mopping the juices, and a crisp, chilled white wine such as Muscadet, Sancerre or Sauvignon Blanc! Bon appetit!

SUNNY'S GREEN GARLIC HERBED BUTTER

Steps:

• In a food processor, add the parsley, butter, Italian seasoning, garlic, lemon zest and juice, scallions, a nice pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Blend until smooth; taste and season with more salt if needed.
• Use on garlic bread, broiled oysters, baked fish, roast chicken, scrambled eggs, lamb, twirled with pasta--just use it, mmmkay?

GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Stir the butter, garlic and parsley, if using, together in a small bowl. Season with a little salt (only if using unsalted butter) and black pepper. If the butter is too cold to mix, warm the ingredients in a small pan until melted and combined, then leave to cool. Will keep for up to one week in the fridge.

ESCARGOTS WITH PERSILLADE BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F. Prepare the Persillade Butter: In the bowl of a food processor, add butter, garlic, shallots, parsley, chives, almond flour, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Blend until bright green and uniformly combined, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl and push down the parsley as needed. Makes 1 cup.
• To cool the butter: Place Persillade Butter on a square of plastic wrap. Roll into a log about the same diameter as the divots of the escargot dish; then wrap tightly, removing as much air as possible. Place in the refrigerator. (Persillade Butter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and in the freezer for up to 1 month.)
• Escargots, part 1: Remove snails from the can and drain; discard the liquid. Escargot can be prepared with or without shells. With shells: Use a small spoon to push a snail into each shell; do not push too deeply, or the snails will be hard to retrieve. Without shells: Place one snail in each divot of an escargot dish.
• Escargots, part 2: Use an offset spatula to pack each snail shell with about 1 tablespoon of the Persillade Butter. Neatly level off the butter at the opening and place in the escargot dish, opening side up. (As the escargots bake, some of the butter will melt out of the shells and into the dish.)Without shells: It's best to use well-chilled Persillade Butter for escargots without shells. Unwrap the log of butter and slice about 1 tablespoon of butter per snail. Cover each snail with a slice of butter. Use a paring knife to trim away the top and bottom of each cherry tomato; then cut in half. Top each snail with a slice of cherry tomato. Place both escargot dishes on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper (for easy clean-up). Roast in the oven until butter is foaming, 8-10 minutes.
• Remove escargots from oven. Serve hot with escargot forks (optional) and baguette slices.

FRENCH BREAD WITH GREEN ONION GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a medium bowl stir together butter, green onions and garlic powder. Spread 2 T butter mixture on cut sides of bread. Press cut sides of bread together; wrap in aluminum foil and seal. Place bread on a baking sheet.
• Bake until thoroughly heated, about 15 minutes. Cut into slices before serving. Serve with remaining butter mixture.