Description
Simple Sicilian cheese and spinach stuffed pastry delights Mediterranean palates with its rich, herbal profile. Crisp layers of golden pastry encase creamy ricotta and tender spinach, offering a perfect balance of rustic comfort you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- Sesame seeds
- Nigella seeds
Instructions
- Sauté Preparation: Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat, creating a gentle cooking surface for garlic to release its aromatic essence without browning.
- Spinach Transformation: Add minced garlic and fresh spinach leaves, stirring consistently until spinach collapses into a compact, vibrant green mass. For frozen spinach, ensure thorough moisture drainage to maintain ideal filling consistency.
- Flavor Fusion: Cool spinach mixture slightly, then incorporate ricotta, feta, mozzarella, egg yolk, salt, black pepper, and nutmeg. Blend ingredients meticulously to create a harmonious, creamy filling with balanced flavors and uniform texture.
- Pastry Assembly: Carefully spread the cheese-spinach mixture onto prepared pastry, ensuring even distribution and leaving appropriate margins for sealing.
- Baking Finale: Position stuffed pastry on a lined baking sheet, brush with egg wash for golden sheen, and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until pastry achieves a crisp, bronzed exterior and filling reaches optimal temperature.
Notes
- Drain Spinach Thoroughly: Remove excess moisture from spinach (fresh or frozen) to prevent soggy pastry and maintain a crisp, flaky texture.
- Balance Cheese Ratios: Mix ricotta, feta, and mozzarella carefully to create a creamy, rich filling without overwhelming the delicate spinach flavor.
- Control Garlic Intensity: Sauté garlic briefly on low heat to release aromatic oils without burning, ensuring a subtle, smooth flavor profile.
- Prevent Filling Separation: Allow spinach mixture to cool slightly before adding cheese to maintain a consistent, smooth filling texture and prevent ingredient curdling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg