Spinach Ricotta Filo Parcels Food

SPINACH AND RICOTTA FILO BASKETS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan and gently fry the onion for 10min until softened. Add the garlic and cook for a further 1min. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, wash the spinach and discard any large stalks. Put a large pan over a medium heat and add the spinach. Season. Cover and cook for 2-3min until wilted. Drain. When cool enough to handle, squeeze to remove any excess liquid.
• In a bowl, beat together the eggs, ricotta and milk. Chop the spinach and stir into the ricotta, along with the onion mixture and nutmeg.
• Preheat oven to 200ºC (180ºC fan) mark 6 and preheat a baking sheet. Lightly grease 10 holes of a 12-hole muffin tin. Unroll filo pastry and keep covered with a clean, damp tea towel. Cut the filo into 15cm (6in) squares - big enough to line the holes of the muffin tin with a bit of an overlap. Brush the squares with olive oil. Lay one square on top of another at a 45° angle so the points are offset. Then add a third square, offsetting the points to fall between those of the first two squares so you end up with a star shape. Push the layered squares into one of the muffin-tin holes. Repeat with the remaining filo to make 10 baskets. Brush edges with oil.
• Mix together the pine nuts, Parmesan and parsley. Divide the ricotta mixture among the filo baskets and top with the pine nut mixture. Bake in the muffin tin on the preheated baking sheet for 7-8min until golden. Gently remove the baskets from the muffin tin and cook directly on the baking sheet for a further 5min to crisp up the bases. To serve: if frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge. Preheat the oven to 200ºC (180ºC fan) mark 6 and warm the filo baskets on a preheated baking sheet for 5min until crisp.

RICOTTA & SPINACH FILO BITES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Heat the oil in a pan, then cook the spring onions for 1-2 mins until softened. Add the spinach and cook for a few mins more until any liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat.
• Pat the feta dry with kitchen paper, then crumble it finely into a large bowl. Add the ricotta, dill and season with pepper. Taste, then add a little salt if needed. Add the eggs and spinach mixture, then mix well.
• Unfold the filo and cut into three pieces lengthwise, cutting through all of the sheets at once. Take out 3 sheets and wrap the remainder tightly to prevent them from drying out. Brush the 3 strips lightly with melted butter. Fold in half lengthwise so they are half the length, then brush again with butter. Place 1 tsp of the mixture on the end of each strip, fold a little pastry over the filling, then fold in the edges. Loosely roll to form a cigar. Place on the baking sheets, a little apart, then finish making the rest. Can be frozen in a large plastic container for up to 3 months.
• Brush the tops with butter, then bake for 15-18 mins until lightly golden and crisp.

SPINACH & RICOTTA FILO PASTRY PARCELS | ASDA GOOD LIVING

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Heat 1 tsp of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and cook the spring onions until soft. Transfer to a bowl. Add the spinach to the pan and cook until it wilts.
• Tip the spinach into a sieve standing over a bowl. Press with the back of a wooden spoon to extract excess water.
• Add the spinach, ricotta and Cheddar to the spring onions and mix together. Season with pepper.
• Cut each sheet of pastry in half to make two pieces that are almost squares. Lay three squares on top of each other.
• Keep the rest of the pastry covered with a clean, damp (not wet) tea towel, as filo pastry dries out and becomes brittle and unusable quickly.
• Brush the top square of pastry with oil and put a quarter of the ricotta mixture in the middle. Fold up the edges to make a money purse shape and twist the top to seal it.
• Brush all over with oil and put on the baking tray. Repeat to make three more parcels. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until crisp and golden.

COURGETTE (ZUCCHINI) AND RICOTTA PHYLLO PARCELS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6.
• Finely grate the courgettes and place in a sieve over a bowl. Carefully squeeze out any excess water.
• Place the courgettes in a large bowl with the mint, ricotta cheese, eggs and lemon juice.
• Mix thoroughly and season with salt and pepper.
• Cut the phyllo pastry into large squares. Brush each sheet with butter and layer 4 sheets together.
• Spoon a little of the courgette mix into the centre of each phyllo square. Pull up each corner to form a parcel, twisting slightly to secure.
• Place on a baking sheet, brush with melted butter, and cook for 20 minutes until golden and crispy.
• Serve hot or cold with rocket salad. If serving cold, allow to cool completely before covering, otherwise they will soften.