I was back home for my first Thanksgiving in five years and I had barely set my suitcase down when my mother turned to me and said that I had to make spinach puffs. She is the main beneficiary of a Bon Appétit Magazine subscription that my brother and I have both been too lazy to cancel. So she had dog eared a few recipes that she thought we could try for the holiday of eating. Who am I to refuse the wishes of my mother?
I loved the look of these spinach puffs because they are basically easy, little spanikopita bites. I used to frequent pizzerias and small restaurants in New York that would serve these cripsy little containers of spinach and feta. This recipe is a take on spanikopita and I revised it to make it party size (what party food comes with only six servings right?)
I revised the recipe here and these became a hit at Thanksgiving. They are savory, crispy and oh so delicious. We ran out of muffin tins and I ended up making a few in mini muffin pans (perfect and bite size!)
Spinach and cheese puffs
Ingredients
- 2 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed
- 12 oz. reduced fat crumbled feta
- 1/2 cup minced onion (1 small onion)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (I used about 3/4 teaspoon of each)
- 3 large eggs
- 3 sheets frozen puff pastry (from a 17.3-ounce package), thawed, rolled out to a 12-inch square, kept chilled
Special Equipment
- Two 12 cup muffin pan (or two to four mini muffin pans with pastry squares cut accordingly)
Makes more than 24 regular muffin sized puffs
Preparation
1. Using your hands, squeeze spinach and drain out as much water as you can. Mix spinach and remaining ingredients except eggs, salt, pepper, and feta. Season to taste with salt and pepper and mix in two eggs.
2. Cut puff pastry lengthwise into 3 equal strips. Cut each strip into 3 squares (or 4 squares for mini muffin pan). Place a square in each muffin cup, pressing into bottom and up sides and leaving corners pointing up. Put just enough filling to reach the top of the cup. Fold pastry over filling, pressing corners together to meet in center (somewhat like a pinwheel shape). Spinach puffs can be assembled 3 hours ahead and refrigerated
3. Preheat oven to 400°. Beat remaining egg to blend in a small bowl and brush pastry with egg wash. Bake until pastry is golden brown and puffed, about 25-30 minutes for regular muffin size and 20 minutes for mini muffin size. Let puffs cool, loosen from pan, and serve.
oh this looks so good! i really want to indulge in something like this 🙂
Yay!!! Your site is working again on my server, so happy! And relieved. I love anything to do with spinach and add cheese to add its even better! Looks so delish.
Oh yay, I was just about to reply to you. My husband actually said that error looks similar to the error when the internet connection drops. I am glad you can see the site again and yes, the option for getting posts by email should be on the homepage if you get the error again!
when i’m gonna “treat” myself to puff pastry and cheese – i’m making these – printing recipie NOW
Ordinarily I don’t like spinach or cheese, but these look positively incredible! Plus, my mom would adore them – we’re talking hardcore cheese lover here! 😀
These look like little bites of heaven! Perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer, or an anytime appetizer. Delicious!
as someone of greek heritage, i’d definitely appreciate these!
they look so good!
Mmm Greek food. I liked making these because phyllo can be a little tricky (it rips so easily) and these are easy to make!
I can get behind this recipe for sure! YuM!
Mmm those look delish!
Oh my these look absolutely scrumptious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Rowena @ rolala loves
These look absolutely delicious! When I was in Greece I practically lived on cheese and spinach pastries. My tummy is rumbling just thinking about it!
I’ve had those before and they are sooooo good!
Yum! These look super tasty!
Looks delicious!! I love anything with spinach. 🙂
xx
Heel in Mint
OH EM GEE
this looks SO good – you are such a whiz in the kitchen. i will have to give this recipe a try too. mm so hungry now. 🙂
xox P
phiphi’s blog
they look delicious!!!
xx
b
My MIL makes this great spinach pastry, but this looks so much easier. Plus, I get my own. 🙂
These look heavenly! My parents are having a Superbowl party on Sunday, so I’m actually going to suggest these to my mom. Or maybe I’ll surprise her and make them myself and bring them over. 🙂
this looks good! i actually have never trie these b4
xo
MOSAMUSE
http://www.MOSAMUSE.com
This sounds divine!
Dying to try it!
Thanks for sharing the recipe:)
x
[…] with my family usually has an Asian focus with a few newer Western side dishes thrown in (like the spinach puffs I made last […]