Description
These Spinach and Feta Puff Pastry Bites are delicious, bite-sized appetizers combining flaky puff pastry shells filled with a savory mixture of sautéed spinach, garlic, onions, and creamy feta cheese. Perfect for parties or as a tasty snack, they come together quickly and bake to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry Shells
- 25 small prepared puff pastry shells (frozen or chilled)
- 1 egg, beaten (for brushing)
Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 3 ounces feta cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven following the puff pastry package instructions to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking.
- Defrost Puff Pastry: Defrost the puff pastry shells as directed on the package so they are ready to bake.
- Prepare Pastry Shells: Lay the pastry shells on a cookie sheet and lightly brush the beaten egg over the tops of each pastry cup to help them brown beautifully.
- Initial Bake: Bake the pastry shells for half the required time specified on the package. For example, if the package suggests 12 minutes, bake for 6 minutes now.
- Sauté Aromatics: While baking, heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to release flavor, then add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened.
- Cook Spinach: Add chopped spinach to the pan and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the spinach is wilted and combined with the aromatics.
- Mix Filling: Transfer the spinach and onion mixture to a food processor with the feta cheese. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped and combined, sticking together well.
- Fill Pastry Cups: Remove the partially baked pastry shells from the oven and spoon about 1 tablespoon of the spinach-feta mixture into each cup evenly.
- Final Bake: Return filled pastries to the oven and bake for the remaining time indicated on the puff pastry package (e.g., the other 6 minutes if your total bake time is 12 minutes).
- Serve Warm: Once golden and cooked through, remove from oven and serve immediately while warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Make sure to use frozen or well-chilled puff pastry for best puff and flakiness.
- Adjust the amount of garlic and onion according to your preference for stronger or milder flavors.
- You can substitute baby spinach with other leafy greens like kale or swiss chard, but reduce sautéing time accordingly.
- For a crispier bottom, pre-bake the shells during the initial bake step before filling.
- These bites are best served fresh but can be reheated in a warm oven for a few minutes.
