Description
These flaky cheese and spinach stuffed pastries are buttery, golden, and irresistibly cheesy — a perfect mix of creamy ricotta, garlicky spinach, and crisp puff pastry. They make a beautiful brunch centerpiece, an elegant appetizer, or a quick make-ahead snack. Easy to prepare, bake beautifully, and freeze well — these pastries are everything you love about comfort food in one bite.
Ingredients
For the Filling:
4 cups fresh spinach (or 10 oz frozen, thawed and drained)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
¾ cup ricotta cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg (plus 1 extra for egg wash)
Salt and pepper to taste
For the Pastry:
1 package puff pastry sheets, thawed but still cold
1 tbsp water (for egg wash)
Optional: sesame seeds or everything bagel seasoning for topping
Instructions
Prep the filling: In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté garlic until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2–3 minutes. Let cool, then squeeze out excess moisture.
Mix the filling: In a bowl, combine spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper. Stir until creamy and evenly mixed.
Prepare the pastry: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut puff pastry into 4×4-inch squares.
Assemble: Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each square. Fold over into a triangle or rectangle and press edges with a fork to seal.
Egg wash: Whisk the second egg with 1 tbsp water. Brush over pastries and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
Bake: Arrange pastries on the baking sheet, 1 inch apart. Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
Cool slightly: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
To make ahead, assemble pastries and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
To freeze, place unbaked pastries on a tray until firm, then store in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding 5–7 minutes to bake time.
For extra flavor, mix in feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, or herbs like dill or basil.
Reheat leftovers in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes to crisp up again (avoid microwaving).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pastry
- Calories: 245 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: Cheese and Spinach Pastry, Puff Pastry Recipe, Easy Appetizer, Spinach Cheese Puffs
