Leek & Goat Cheese Pastries
Serves: 18
 
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup thinly sliced leeks
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
  • 2 ounces goat cheese, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1⁄8 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1⁄8 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1⁄8 teaspoon dried marjoram
  • 2 (17.3 ounce) boxes frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • Garnish: sea salt flakes
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a small skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add leeks, and cook, stirring often, until soft and golden brown, 7 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, approximately 1 minute more. Remove from heat, and let cool completely. Chop leek mixture.
  3. In a medium bowl, stir together leek mixture, cheese, cream, honey, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and marjoram. Transfer mixture to a piping bag and cut a 1⁄2-inch opening at the tip.
  4. Cut each puff pastry sheet into 9 equal squares, approximately 3x3-inches, (36 squares total). Lightly brush surface of 18 squares with egg. Pipe a 1 1⁄2-teaspoon dollop of filling onto center of egg-brushed squares. Cover each with a remaining plain square, pressing gently around filling to seal dough to give filling a 1⁄4-inch border.
  5. Using a 2- to 2 1⁄2-inch dreidel-shaped cutter, cut shapes from turnovers, centering filling within cutter and discarding scraps. Place, evenly spaced, on prepared baking sheets. Freeze for 15 minutes.
  6. Brush tops with remaining beaten egg. Using a very sharp knife, cut a tiny “x” in top of each pastry to vent.
  7. Garnish with sea salt flakes, if desired.
  8. Bake, one baking sheet at a time, until puffed and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating halfway through baking time. Serve warm.
Recipe by TeaTime Magazine at https://teatimemagazine.com/leek-goat-cheese-pastries/