Ingredients:
Puff pastry – 700 g
Cream cheese – 200 g
Garlic – 10 g (about 2-3 cloves, chopped)
Feta cheese – 100 g
Cheese (cheddar or gouda) – 300 g, grated
Parsley – 30 g (about 1/4 cup, chopped)
Egg – 1 large
Mozzarella – 70 g, grated
Bacon – 100 g, cooked and crumbled
Rosemary – 10 g (about 1 tablespoon, chopped)
Garlic (for sauce) – 2 cloves, chopped
Cooking cream – 200 g (about 3/4 cup)
Black pepper – 2 g (about 1/2 teaspoon)
Salt – 2 g (about 1/2 tsp)
Mustard – 25g (about 1 tbsp)
Instructions:
Prepare the cheese mixture:
In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, feta cheese, grated cheese (cheddar or gouda) and mozzarella. Mix well with the minced garlic (10g) and chopped parsley (30g). Let sit.
Prepare the puff pastry:
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
Roll out the puff pastry (700g) on a floured surface. If using frozen puff pastry, make sure it is completely thawed. Cut the dough into equal portions, large enough to fit the cheese filling.
Assemble the dough:
Pour the cheese mixture evenly over the puff pastry pieces.
Fold the puff pastry over the filling to seal, making a crimp at the edges with a fork. You can create small pockets or larger turnovers depending on your preference.
Brush the top of the puff pastry with a beaten egg for a golden finish.
Bake the pastry:
Place the filled puff pastry pieces on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Bake in the preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for approximately 30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crispy.
Prepare the bacon and cream sauce:
While the puff pastry is baking, in a frying pan brown the bacon (100 g) until crispy. Remove and crumble.
In the same pan, add the chopped garlic (2 cloves) and chopped rosemary (10 g). Sauté until they give off a pleasant aroma.
Add the cooking cream (200g), mustard (25g), salt (2g) and black pepper (2g) to the pan. Stir and cook the sauce on low heat until slightly thickened.
Add the crumbled bacon back to the sauce and stir.
Serve:
Once the puff pastry is baked and golden, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly.
Serve the baked puff pastry with the creamy bacon and herb sauce drizzled over the top or as a dipping sauce on the side.
Serving suggestions:
Serve as a hearty appetizer or alongside a fresh green salad for a complete meal.
Pair with a side of roasted vegetables or steamed asparagus for a balanced dish.
Add additional fresh herbs such as basil or chives on top to add more flavor and freshness.
Cooking Tips:
For a crispier puff pastry, make sure it is cold when you work with it and avoid over-stuffing it, as this can make the pastry soggy.
To save time, cook the bacon ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
You can substitute the cooking cream with half and half or heavy cream for a richer sauce.
Nutritional Benefits:
Cheese is a good source of calcium and protein.
Parsley is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, which offer antioxidant benefits.
Garlic is known for its potential heart health benefits and immune system-boosting properties.