Sliced leeks, soft and tangy goat cheese, honey, and dried herbs meld together marvelously inside a mouthwatering puff pastry shaped like a dreidel—a picture-perfect addition to an upscale fête. Pictured with our Mixed Vegetable Latkes with Labneh and Smoked Trout Tea Sandwiches.
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
- Preheat oven to 400°. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Brush tops with remaining beaten egg. Using a very sharp knife, cut a tiny “x” in top of each pastry to vent.
- Garnish with sea salt flakes, if desired.
- Bake, one baking sheet at a time, until puffed and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating halfway through baking time. Serve warm.
