Easy Elegance for New Year's Eve...Featuring Lobster Salad in Puff Pastry Cups #newyearsevefood #puffpastry #easyappetizers #seafood #holidayfood

The 2023 holiday season is quickly coming to an end. If you're planning a low-key celebration at home this weekend to ring in 2024, I've got a perfect appetizer recipe for you. My Lobster Salad Puff Pastry Bites are the epitome of easy elegance! Bite-sized frozen puff pastry cups are filled with a creamy, flavorful lobster salad. The ingredients are minimal, so the sweet chunks of lobster truly take center stage. Best of all? Your guests will never know you whipped them up in no time! Last year, I made the lobster salad a day ahead, then stored in the fridge. I also baked the puff pastry cups early in the day on New Year's Eve. I simply assembled the bites just before serving. Talk about stress-free entertaining!

Lobster Salad in Puff Pastry Cups
a Weekend Gourmet Original

Ingredients (makes 2 dozen cups):

• 1 package (24) frozen puff pastry cups
• 1/2 cup good-quality mayonnaise -- I use Duke's
• 1 TBS balsamic vinegar 
• 1 TBS grainy mustard
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
• Sea salt to taste
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• 1 TBS chopped parsley
• 1 lb. lobster tail meat, chopped (approximately 1 cup) 
• For garnish: sea salt flakes and additional Old Bay seasoning

Step 1: Make the lobster salad up to a day ahead and store in refrigerator. Add mayonnaise, balsamic, Old Bay, sea salt, garlic, and parsley to a mixing bowl. Whisk until completely combined into a dressing. Add the chopped lobster, and toss with the dressing. Refrigerate until ready to spoon into the puff pastry cups.

Step 2: Heat oven to 400℉. Place the frozen puff pastry bites on a non-stick rimmed baking sheet. Bake until puffed and golden -- about 20 minutes. Use a wooden dowel to push the center pieces of each cup down, forming into a cup. Let the puff pastry cups cool at least 30 minutes before filling.

Step 3: When the puff pastry cups are cool, use a small spoon to fill with some of the lobster salad, mounding it slightly on top. Sprinkle each puff with a bit more Old Bay seasoning and a flake or two of sea salt on top. Place the finished bites on a festive holiday platter and serve.

Wowza -- these appetizer bites are fabulous! The flaky puff pastry holds a perfect amount of creamy lobster salad. The dressing is a little spicy and a little tangy -- but the sweet lobster chunks are definitely the star of the show. Lobster not in your late December budget? No problem! Simply use 1 lb. boiled, chopped shrimp instead! 

To create a full no-stress New Year's Eve menu, consider the adding the following items: your favorite bakery cookies, store-bought chocolate truffles, boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce, salsa and/or guacamole with tortilla chips, and...of course...a champagne toast! Here's to a great 2024 ahead!!