Best Pastry Shells Recipes

SAUSAGE AND CHICKEN PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Cook and stir mushrooms until browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Arrange thawed puffed pastry shells on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Use a knife to remove the tops; reserve.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion. Cover and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in mushrooms.
• Add sausage to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir with a spatula, breaking apart the sausage until cooked, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat remaining oil in a pot over medium-low heat. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, until browned, 2 to 30 minutes. Slowly pour in milk and stir constantly until blended. Add garlic salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and poultry seasoning. Whisk until well blended. Cook and stir gravy until boiling, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to a simmer.
• Stir the vegetable mixture, sausage, and chicken into the gravy. Taste and add more garlic salt if needed.
• Spoon a generous serving of the sausage-chicken mixture into the puff pastry shells. Cover with the tops.

CHEESY BAY SCALLOP PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 380 degrees F (193 degrees C). Place pastry shells on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• While pastry shells are baking, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallops and saute quickly on both sides until browned, 3 to 5 minutes; do not overcook. Remove from skillet and set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium and melt remaining butter in the skillet. Add mushrooms and shallots and cook until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Whisk half-and-half and flour together in a bowl and add to the skillet with the mushroom mixture, whisking until smooth and thickened, about 5 minutes. Whisk wine, sherry, lemon juice, and mustard into the cream sauce. Stir in Parmesan cheese, tarragon, and black pepper. Add cooked scallops to the sauce in the skillet, stir, and reheat briefly, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Remove pastry shells from oven and cut off tops. Fill with cheesy scallops.

CREAM SHRIMP IN PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• In a large skillet add in butter and melted over a medium heat add in the flour and using a wire whisk blending to form a roux add in heavy cream to form a sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Add in the shrimps, thyme, chives and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over a low heat for 5 minutes and remove from the stove top and set aside to cool for an hour.
• Heat the oven to 350°F Beat egg and the water in a small bowl with a fork. Brush the pastry shells with the egg mixture. Place onto a cookie sheet and into the oven.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and place onto a rack to cool and spit the top third off and remove some of the center and fill with the cream shrimp's mixture and top off with the top layer.

QUICK CREAM CHEESE PASTRY (TART SHELLS)

Steps:

• Beat butter and cream cheese in a bowl until smooth. Add flour; beat just until a soft dough forms. Form into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap; chill for 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F/220°C.
• Shape dough into 1"/2.5 cm balls. Place each ball of dough into cups of mini muffin pan. Dip Mini-Tart Shaper into flour; press into dough to form tart shells. Pierce shells with a fork. (If you don't have a Mini-Tart shaper just use your fingers and form into shells).
• Bake 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool in pan for 5 minutes; carefully remove tart shells from pan. Cool completely. Fill as desired.

BRIE AND CRANBERRY TARTLETS BRIE AND CRANBERRY TARTLETS MAKES 45 TARTLETS 3 (1.9-OUNCE) PACKAGES MINIATURE PHYLLO PASTRY SHELLS (45 SHELLS)* 1 CUP WHOLE-BERRY CRANBERRY SAUCE 1 TABLESPOON ORANGE ZEST

Steps:

• Brie and Cranberry Tartlets
• Brie and Cranberry Tartlets
• Makes 45 tartlets
• (1.9-ounce) packages miniature phyllo pastry shells (45 shells)*
• cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
• tablespoon orange zest
• (8-ounce) wheel of Brie, rind removed
• Preheat oven to 350°. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place shells on prepared baking sheet, and bake for 5 minutes. Cool completely on baking sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 300°.
• In a small bowl, combine cranberry sauce and orange zest. Cut Brie into about 45 pieces. Place 1 Brie piece in each pastry shell; top with about 1 teaspoon cranberry mixture.
• Bake for 4 to 6 minutes, or just until cheese begins to melt. Serve immediately.
• *We tested with Athens Mini Fillo Shells.

CINNAMON-APPLE PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Bake pastry shells according to package directions. , In a saucepan, combine the apples, 2/3 cup apple juice and cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until apples are tender. Stir in brown sugar. Combine cornstarch and remaining juice until smooth. Stir into apples. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in walnuts. Split pastry shell; spoon apple mixture into pastry shells.

FLAKY PASTRY TART SHELLS

Steps:

• 1. Place the flour, butter, and salt in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse about 24 times, then open the machine and lift a handful of crumbs. The largest pieces of butter should be the size of raw grains of rice or barley. If there are larger pieces, continue to pulse the mixture. When the butter pieces are the correct size, transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle 6 tablespoons of ice water onto the dough. Spread the fingers of one hand as if you were about to grab a large ball, and using your rigid fingertips as if they were a large fork, stir the dough quickly and briefly until the liquid is incorporated. Squeeze a handful of the dough in your palm. The dough should have just enough moisture to stay together. Break the piece in half. If it seems dry and crumbly, cautiously add more water a few teaspoons at a time until you can squeeze it into a ball that will not crumble when broken apart. If your kitchen is reasonably cool, the butter was cold, and you used ice water, the dough should be at just the right stage of malleability for rolling out, and it will be easiest to work with immediately. If your kitchen is very warm, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for about 15 minutes.
• 2.Rolling the dough:
• Turn the pastry dough out on a lightly floured board and divide it into quarters for small 7-inch tart shells or in half for large 10-inch shells. Shape 1 piece into a disk and dust the top lightly with flour. Begin to roll out the dough, using quick but gentle strokes with the pin. Start with the pin in the middle of the round and roll to the top, then to the bottom. Rotate the dough 1/4 turn each time you roll to be sure the dough is not sticking and use additional flour as necessary. When the round is larger than 9 inches for a small tart, or 12 inches for a large tart, and about 1/8 inch thick, turn a 9- or 12-inch plate or bowl upside down on the dough as a template and cut around it with a sharp knife. Remove the plate or bowl.
• 3.Forming the edge:
• Fold 1/2-inch edge of dough all around to form a decorative rim. Begin by folding a 1-inch-long section over by 1/2 inch, then overlap the fold by half and roll another piece of dough over, pinching it firmly in place. Continue to roll and pinch, and a twisted rope pattern will. Form. Roll out the remaining dough and crimp the edges in the same manner. Transfer the pastry shells to baking sheets lined with parchment paper and poke the interior of the shells all over with the tines of a fork. Refrigerate the pastry for at lest 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. If you wish, you can freeze the shells on the baking sheets, and when they are frozen, stack them inside freezer bags. Bake the shells without defrosting first.
• 4.Prebaking:
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Brush the rims of the tarts with egg wash. Bake the tart shells (1 baking sheet at a time) for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350°F and continue to bake until they are an even golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes longer. Lift a shell with a spatula and check that the underside is evenly brown. If the tart shells puff up during baking, press down the center of the pastry with the back of a large spoon. Let cool on the baking sheet.

CREAMED CHICKEN IN PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Braise chicken in chicken broth until cooked (about 20-30 minutes). Cut into cubes.
• Strain broth and set aside.
• Bake pastry shells according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, saute the mushrooms, green pepper and broccoli in butter until tender; sprinkle with flour.
• Gradually stir in milk and about 1 cup of the reserved broth until blended.
• Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
• Add the pimientos, paprika, chicken, salt and pepper.
• Cook and stir until heated through.
• Spoon into pastry shells.

SEAFOOD SUPREME IN PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Cook scallops in boiling salted water for 7-10 minutes and drain.
• Melt butter in large sauce pan.
• Add flour, salt and red pepper.
• Blend well.
• Add cream and milk stirring well and cook until thickened.
• Add paprika and worcestershire sauce.
• Blend well, cover and cook 10 minutes over medium heat.
• Add scallops(cut in smaller pieces if large) and shrimp, cook 15 minutes.
• Add crab and cook 10 minutes longer.
• Add Sherry, to taste; try 2 tablespoons to begin with.
• It makes a lot of sauce - so says the recipe.

CREAMED CHICKEN IN PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Bake pastry shells according to package directions; set aside. In a skillet, saute the celery, onion and green pepper in 1 tablespoon butter for 10 minutes or until tender. Remove from the heat and set aside., In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and salt until smooth. Gradually add the milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in soup until blended. Add the chicken, mushrooms, pimientos and sauteed vegetables; mix well., Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and almonds. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Spoon into pastry shells.

SWEET AND SAVORY CHICKEN PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange pastry shells on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add apples; cook and stir until slightly softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add bacon; cook until sizzling, about 1 minute. Add chicken; cook and stir until no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Divide filling over the 6 baked shells right out of the oven.

OLD FASHIONED CHICKEN SALAD IN PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• 1. Prepare pastry shells as directed on package. Set aside. In a large bowl mix remaining ingredients except a few almonds and parsley for garnish. Chill.
• 2. When ready to serve divide chicken salad equally into the pastry shells. Garnish with almonds and parsley.

STRAWBERRY AND BANANA TARTLETS IN COCONUT PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl blend together the flour, the butter, the shortening, the coconut, and a pinch of salt until the mixture resembles meal. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons ice water, toss the mixture until the water is incorporated, and form the dough into a ball. Flatten the dough slightly, dust it with flour, and chill it, wrapped in wax paper, for 1 hour. Divide the dough in half and roll out each half 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Fit each half into a 4 1/4-inch tartlet pan and roll a rolling pin over the pan edges to trim the excess dough. Prick the shells with a fork and bake them in a preheated 425°F. oven for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375°F. and bake the shells for 12 to 15 minutes more, or until they are golden. Transfer the shells to a rack and let them cool. The shells may be made 1 day in advance and kept in an airtight container.
• In a saucepan combine the milk and 2 tablespoons of the sugar and bring the mixture just to a boil over moderate heat. In a bowl whisk together the yolk, the vanilla, the banana, mashed, the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar, the flour, and a pinch of salt. Add half the milk mixture in a stream, whisking, pour the egg mixture into the pan, and bring the mixture to a boil, whisking constantly. Simmer the custard for 1 minute, remove the pan from the heat, and whisk in the butter. Force the custard through a fine sieve set over a bowl, cover its surface with plastic wrap, and chill the custard for 2 hours. The custard may be made 8 hours in advance and kept covered and chilled. In a bowl beat the cream until it holds soft peaks and fold it gently but thoroughly into the custard.
• Divide the filling between the shells and arrange the strawberries decoratively on it. In a small saucepan melt the jelly with the lemon juice over moderate heat and brush the strawberries with the glaze. Sprinkle the tartlets with the toasted coconut.

CRAWFISH TOMATO éTOUFFéE IN PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Make puff pastry shells:
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• On a lightly floured surface roll out 1 pastry sheet 1/8 inch thick (about 15 by 11 inches) and with a 4-inch round cutter cut out 6 rounds. Roll out second pastry sheet and cut out 6 more rounds in same manner. Roll out remaining pastry sheet and cut out 4 more rounds in same manner. (There will be a total of 16 rounds.) Transfer 8 rounds to a large baking sheet. With a 2 1/2-inch round cutter cut out and discard centers from remaining 8 rounds to make rings. Prick rounds on baking sheet with a fork and brush lightly with some egg wash, being careful not to let wash run over edges. Center pastry rings on rounds, pressing together lightly to adhere. Brush tops of rings lightly with some egg wash, being careful not to let wash run over edges.
• Bake pastry shells in middle of oven until golden, about 9 minutes, and transfer to a rack. With a paring knife carefully cut out and remove pastry centers to form cavities. Pastry shells may be made 2 days ahead and kept in airtight containers. Reheat pastry shells in middle of a 400°F. oven until warm before serving.
• Make etouffée:
• In a heavy skillet cook onion and bell pepper in butter, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned. Sprinkle flour over onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and reserved purée, water, and cayenne and simmer, stirring, until thickened slightly, about 1 minute. Stir in crawfish and heat mixture over moderate heat until just hot. Etouffße may be prepared up to this point 2 days ahead, cooled completely, uncovered, and chilled, covered. Reheat etouffée before proceeding. Stir in scallions and salt to taste.
• In a large bowl whisk together vinegar and salt and pepper to taste and whisk in oil in a stream until emulsified. Add mesclun and toss well.
• Spoon etouffée into warm pastry shells and arrange mesclun around shells.

PEANUTTY CREAM-FILLED PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Bake puff pastry shells according to package directions. Cool completely. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the peanut butter, milk and lemon juice. Fold in whipped topping., Place shells on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Remove tops; save for another use. Pour 1 teaspoon hard-shell topping into each pastry shell. Mound 1/3 cup cream cheese mixture over topping. Drizzle with an additional 1 teaspoon topping; sprinkle with peanuts. Freeze for 30 minutes or until firm. , Let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving.

PUFF PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Beat egg and water together in a small bowl.
• Cut two rounds from each sheet of puff pastry using a 3-inch round cutter, forming 8 circles. Use a 2 1/2-inch round cutter to cut through 4 of the rounds. Place entire cut round on top of an un-cut round. Brush each with egg mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

OYSTERS AND SAUSAGE IN PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Bake pastry shells
• Cut sausage into ¼ in thick disks
• chop oysters
• heat butter in sauce pan and sauté mushrooms and onions in butter
• add flour
• add stock and oyster liquid slowly
• stir in sherry and continue to stir to thicken
• stir cream and seasonings add oysters and sausage stir and heat for 5 minutes

PASTRY SHELLS

Steps:

• Mix and sift flour.
• Cut in shortening with a knife. Add only enough water to hold the ingredients together.
• DO NOT KNEAD.
• Divide the dough into 2 parts and roll out onto a slightly floured wooden board.
• Line the pie pan with only 1 of the dough parts.
• Pinch the edges or use a fork to make the edged design.
• Poke the bottom of the shell with the fork.
• Bake in oven at 460* for 10 - 15 minutes.
• **Cook the 2nd shell according to directions unless you are using the 2nd shell as a covering for a pie, then place it on top of the pie raw and cook according to the pie's directions.** This recipe yields 2 pastry shells.