Description
Delightful Ricotta and Spinach Puff Pastry Bites that combine creamy ricotta, flavorful spinach, and melted cheddar cheese in a flaky puff pastry shell. Perfect as a savory appetizer or snack, these bite-sized treats are easy to prepare and bake to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 7 oz / 200g ricotta cheese (preferably full fat, low fat also works)
- 8 oz / 250g frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess water
- 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese (or tasty, gruyere, or any other melting cheese with flavor)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 egg
Pastry
- 2 sheets puff pastry (25cm / 10″ square), defrosted
- 1 egg, lightly beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) to ensure it’s ready for baking the pastry bites evenly.
- Prepare Muffin Tins: Lightly spray two standard muffin or cupcake tins with oil to prevent sticking and make removing the bites easier.
- Make the Filling: In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, thawed and drained spinach, grated cheddar cheese, salt, black pepper, and one egg. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated to create a creamy and flavorful filling.
- Assemble the Bites: Cut each defrosted puff pastry sheet into approximately 7-8 squares, enough to make around 15 pieces. Gently press each square into the muffin tin compartments to form little pastry cups. Spoon the spinach and ricotta mixture evenly into each pastry cup, filling almost to the top.
- Apply Egg Wash: Brush the edges of each pastry cup with the lightly beaten egg. This helps achieve a golden brown and glossy finish during baking.
- Bake: Place the muffin tins in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed up and golden brown and the filling is set and slightly browned on top.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the pastry bites to cool for a few minutes in the tins before carefully removing them. Serve warm or at room temperature as a delicious appetizer or snack.
Notes
- Make sure to thoroughly squeeze out excess water from the spinach to prevent soggy pastry.
- You can substitute the cheddar cheese with other flavorful melting cheeses like gruyere or tasty cheese.
- These bites can be prepared in advance and reheated in the oven before serving.
- For a crisper pastry, avoid overcrowding the muffin tin and allow some space between the pastry cups.
