Recipe - Black Bean Ragout With Snails

One half cup Dried black beans*
1 Ham hock
1 One half tablespoon Chinese fermented blk. beans
1 tablespoon Butter
One fourth cup Julienne of fresh fennel
1 Clove garlic; crushed
One fourth cup Hot salsa
1 One half tablespoon Red wine vinegar
2 tablespoon Bucheron or Montrachet*
8 Thin slices French bread
28 Snails (available in cans)
One fourth cup Julienned roasted red pepper
1 tablespoon Chopped fresh cilantro

*Note: Dried black beans should be soaked overnight in cold water to cover.
Amount of Bucheron or Montrachet may be increased to 1One half times amount
given.

Drain the beans and put them in a 2quart saucepan with the ham hock and
fermented black beans. Add cold water to cover ingredients by 2 inches.
Bring the water to a boil, skimming of any froth that rises to the surface.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, until the beans are tender.
Remove and discard the ham hock. Reserve the beans and about 1 cup of the
liquid, or enough to give the beans a stew like consistency.

Preheat the broiler.

Heat the butter in a large skillet. Add the fennel and cook over moderate
heat, for about 5 minutes, until tender. Add the beans, the bean liquid,
the garlic, salsa and vinegar and stir. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes,
stirring occasionally.

Spread the goat cheese on the bread slices. Place under the broiler for 1
to 2 minutes, just until golden.

Taste the beans and adjust the seasonings if needed. Add the snails and
cook for 5 minutes, until they are heated through. Remove the beans from
the heat and stir in the roasted peppers.

Divide the ragout among 4 serving plates and sprinkle with cilantro. Place
2 cheesetopped croutons at the sides of each plate.

Source: Chef Jimmy Schmidt. From "American Bistro" an Irene Chalmers book,
Contemporary Books, Inc.

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini