Ricotta and Spinach Puff Pastry Bites Recipe
Delicious and easy-to-make Ricotta and Spinach Puff Pastry Bites combining creamy ricotta, savory spinach, and melted cheddar cheese wrapped in flaky puff pastry. Perfect as a tasty appetizer or snack, these bites are baked to golden perfection and can be served warm or at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 15 puff pastry bites 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Filling
- 1 egg
- 7 oz / 200g ricotta (preferably full fat but low fat also works)
- 8 oz / 250g frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed of excess water
- 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese (or tasty, gruyere, or any other melting cheese with flavour)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- Black pepper, to taste
Pastry
- 2 sheets puff pastry (25cm / 10″ square), defrosted
- 1 egg, lightly beaten (egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 180°C (350°F) to prepare for baking the pastry bites.
- Prepare muffin tins: Spray two standard muffin or cupcake tins with oil to prevent sticking.
- Make filling: In a bowl, lightly whisk 1 egg. Add ricotta, thawed and drained spinach, grated cheddar cheese, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Prepare pastry pieces: Cut each puff pastry sheet into 9 equal squares, making 18 pieces in total. You will use approximately 15 pieces; the remaining 3 pieces can be reserved or discarded.
- Form pastry cups: Gently mould 15 pastry squares into the prepared muffin tins, pressing down to form little cups to hold the filling.
- Fill and seal pastries: Evenly divide the filling among the pastry cups. Then bring the four corners of each pastry square towards the center and press down gently to seal. Avoid overfilling to prevent bursting during baking.
- Apply egg wash: Lightly brush the top of each pastry bite with the beaten egg to achieve a beautiful golden color.
- Bake: Place the muffin tins in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the puff pastry is deep golden brown and cooked through.
- Rest and serve: Remove from oven and allow the pastry bites to rest for 5 minutes before carefully removing them from the tins. Serve warm or at room temperature for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use full-fat ricotta for creamier filling, but low-fat works as well.
- Make sure to thoroughly squeeze excess water from thawed spinach to prevent soggy pastry.
- Do not overfill the pastry cups to avoid bursting during baking.
- Brush with egg wash for that glossy, golden finish.
- These bites can be served warm or cooled, making them versatile for appetizers or party snacks.
Keywords: ricotta, spinach, puff pastry, appetizer, snack, cheese, baked bites, vegetarian
