Puff Pastry Bites with Spinach and Cheese

These are great little morsels to serve at your next party! They're super simple to prepare, and you can assemble them in advance. I suggest you bake them just before serving so the puff pastry is light and flaky.

Puff Pastry Bites with Spinach and Cheese

Cooking spray
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons chopped white onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
10 ounces baby spinach leaves
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons heavy cream
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1-2 teaspoons white and black sesame seeds

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray.
Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, until soft. Add the spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes, until wilted. Add the parmesan cheese and heavy cream and cook until the cream is absorbed and there is no more liquid in the pan. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
Roll the puff pastry sheet out to 1/8-inch thickness, about 24x12 inches. Cut the sheet into 3-inch wide strips crosswise and then lengthwise, making 32 (3-inch) squares (don't worry if some aren't exactly 3x3).
Spoon the spinach mixture onto the squares. Pull up all four corners of the puff pastry and pinch them together in the middle. Transfer the bites to the prepared baking sheet and brush with egg.
Sprinkle the bites with the sesame seeds.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the bites are puffed up and golden brown.

Makes 32 bites


Photo: Apolonia