Cheesy Spinach Puff Pastry Bites Food

CHEESY SPINACH PUFF PASTRY BITES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, leaving the bacon fat in the pan. Set the bacon aside.
• Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, 1 minute. Stir in the garlic. Add the spinach and cook until the spinach is wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the salt and pepper and set aside.
• Stir 1 egg, the cream cheese, Parmesan, feta and chives together in a large bowl. Stir in the spinach mixture and the bacon. Set aside.
• Dust a work surface with flour and roll out the pastry with a rolling pin to smooth out any creases. Cut into 4-inch pieces; you should get about 9 squares. Place the squares on the prepared baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg together with a splash of water. Using a pastry brush, brush two adjacent sides of each square with the egg wash. Place a heaping tablespoon of filling into the center of the square. Fold the dough over the filling, forming a triangle, and crimp the edges together. Place the bites in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the fridge and brush the tops with the remaining egg wash. Bake until golden brown and puffed, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes before eating.

SPINACH-CHEESE SWIRLS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork.
• Stir the Muenster cheese, Parmesan cheese, onion and garlic powder in a medium bowl.
• Sprinkle the flour on the work surface. Unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface. Brush the pastry sheet with the egg mixture. Top with the cheese mixture and spinach. Starting at a short side, roll up like a jelly roll. Cut into about 20 (1/2-inch) slices. Place the slices, cut-side down, onto 2 baking sheets. Brush the slices with the egg mixture.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Remove the pastries from the baking sheets and let cool on wire racks for 10 minutes.
• For best results, make sure to remove as much liquid as you can from the spinach before adding it to the pastry. If it's too wet, it may make the pastry soggy.
• For Pesto Swirls, omit all ingredients but the flour and the puff pastry. Unfold the pastry sheet as directed above. Spread 1/2 of an 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened, on the pastry sheet to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Top with 3 tablespoons pesto sauce and sprinkle with 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts. Brush the edge of the pastry sheet with water. Roll up the pastry and proceed as directed above.
• For Ham & Broccoli Swirls, omit the spinach, cheeses, onion and garlic powder. Unfold the pastry sheet and brush with the egg mixture as directed above. Spread 1/2 of an 8-ounce container whipped cream cheese with chives on the pastry sheet. Top with 1 cup frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and well drained and 1 cup finely chopped cooked ham. Proceed as directed above.
• For a flavor twist, try a different cheese. Any shredded cheese will work in this recipe.

CHEESY BROCCOLI PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Cook the broccoli according to the package directions. Transfer to a colander to drain until cool, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the broccoli to a large bowl and add the mozzarella, feta, ricotta, dill, chives, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir together with a large spoon, using the back of it to crush any large broccoli florets. Set aside.
• Whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Roll out a sheet of the puff pastry on a clean work surface into a 12-inch square, dusting with flour as needed to prevent sticking. Cut the puff pastry into sixteen 3-inch squares with a pizza wheel or knife. Place 1 tablespoon of the broccoli mixture in the center of each square. Working with a square at a time, pinch together 2 opposite corners, then pinch together the remaining 2 corners to create a small packet. Transfer the packets to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining puff pastry and filling. Brush the packets with the egg wash and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
• Working in batches if needed, bake the packets until golden and bubbly, 20 to 22 minutes.

SPINACH PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Unfold puff pastry; cut each sheet into 12 sections. Place in greased mini muffin cups, pressing gently onto bottoms and up sides, allowing corners to point up., In a large bowl, stir together spinach, cream cheese, mozzarella, feta, 1 egg, garlic, pepper and salt. Spoon 1 tablespoon into each cup. Bring pastry corners together and pinch to seal. In a small bowl, beat remaining egg. Brush over pastry edges. Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes.

SAUSAGE AND SPINACH PASTRY PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Heat oil in a skillet.
• Brown sausages, about 3 minuted under medium heat.
• Discard excess fat from the sausages from the pan.
• Add onion to the pan, cook about 3 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Let it cool for at least 10 minutes.
• Squeeze out excess liquid from the chopped spinach by using a kitchen/paper towel.
• Place spinach, lemon zest and grated Parmiagiano Reggiano in a bowl.
• Add cooled sausage mixture into the spinach mixture, incorporate well. Filling is now ready.
• Cut each puff pastry sheets into 2 rectangles.
• Brush the top layer with mustard.
• Fill pastry sheets with filling.
• Crimp the edges using a fork.
• Cut 2 slits on top of each pastry.
• Bake for 15-25 minutes until golden brown.