Spinach Pastry Puffs

If you didn't hear, Spinach is a 'Superfood' with tons of health benefits!  Yet, it is also one of those foods that, if not prepared correctly, tasted like something dredged up from the bottom of the ocean!  Yes, we all know how good it is for us.  I recently read an article touting the benefits of this food in its frozen brick form...  not all that appealing at first, but let me tell you, the possibilities are endless when said brick is used in a number of spectacular recipes :-)

One such recipe that is sure to transform that brick of chopped spinach into a decadent treat is for Spinach Pastry Puffs.  I had originally set out to discover a tasty dessert recipe [using the my leftover frozen puff pastry] when this one caught my eye.  I had everything I needed to create the puffs, so I got to work!

Here is the recipe, with a few of my own twists that, I'd like to think, made it even better!

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Spinach Pastry Puffs

Ingredients:

1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 brick of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1/2 cup feta cheese

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp. chopped Kalamata Olives

1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced

1 tbsp. olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

2 eggs

flour for rolling out pastry dough

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spray the 4 corner cups of a muffin tray with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium size bowl, combine the first 9 ingredients.  Beat one egg separately and add it to the spinach mixture, stirring well to combine.  

Roll out the puff pastry until it measures 10" x 10".  Flour your work surface to keep the dough from sticking.  

Slice the pastry into 4 even squares of dough.  Press each square into a muffin cup.  Fill each cup to the top with the spinach mixture.  Bring up the four corners of the dough until they meet in the middle of the cup, then pinch them firmly together.  Do this with all four pastries.  

In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg.  Using a pastry brush, brush the egg over the top of each puff pastry.

Bake on the middle oven rack for 25 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for another 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.  Serve warm or at room temperature.  

Top View

Side View

Inside View... Yum!

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These delicious pastries became our lunch on Sunday, but I could see them making an amazing appetizer for a holiday party... the red and green would be a festive addition!  

If I were to make these into an appetizer, I would definitely buy a mini-muffin pan and create bite-sized pastries.  It may require a bit more prep time, but these puffs can be made in advance, covered, and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours.  The bake time would be cut in half as well!

I must say that I was more than pleased with how these turned out!  The flavor combination is reminiscent of a traditional Greek Spanikopita, which is my all-time-favorite Greek food!  Even if you aren't a fan of Spinach, you must give these a try.  My husband doesn't care for the 'taste of spinach,' but who does?  It's all about what you add to the Spinach that makes it something delectable!  Puff Pastry makes anything seem fancy... not-to-mention the fact that its flaky, buttery pastry is to die for!  [Note to self: Remember this trick when you have children who won't eat their veggies!]

Just knowing that these puffs contain a 'Superfood' should make you feel good about enjoying each and every savory bite :-)  

Librarian turned Foodie