Spinach and Feta Cheese Pasties

I've been meaning to make pasties for ages.  They're a traditional food from Cornwall.  In the old days they were portable meals for farmers, they had meat at one end and a sweet filling at the other - the original "to go" food. Instead of using meat I thought I'd go with spinach and feta - a combination my girls love - so I've really ended up with Spanakopitas Pasties! Nothing too traditional about that - but they tasted great.

Shortcrust Pastry.

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Pinch of salt and pepper

8 oz cold unsalted butter, diced

1 egg yolk

1 cup iced water

Filling.

1 large or 2 medium onions, peeled and finely chopped

Olive oil

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2, 10 oz bags of frozen spinach, thawed

2 eggs

6 oz feta cheese

Zest of a lemon

Juice of half a lemon

black pepper

1 egg - for egg wash

Heat the oven to 425F

To make the pastry, combine the flour, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a couple of times.

Add the butter a few pieces at a time, pulsing all the time.  Add the egg yolk and water and process until the mixture just comes together.

Place the mixture onto a flour surface and gently press together. 

Place it onto a sheet of plastic wrap, wrap it up and put it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to rest.

Meanwhile make the filling.  Saute the onion in the olive oil and butter for approx 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and continue sauteing for another few minutes or until the onions are turning golden. Take off the heat and set aside to cool a little.

Squeeze all the water out of the spinach.  Place in a bowl, add the eggs, pepper, feta cheese, lemon zest and juice.  Combine thoroughly. Add the onion mixture and combine.

Roll out the pastry and cut into circles as big or small as you wish. Place them on a baking sheet sprinkled with a tablespoon of flour to prevent sticking.

Paint the edge of the circles with beaten egg.  Place some of the filling onto the middle of the circle, fold up the sides and pinch together to form a pasty.  Egg wash the top of the pasty.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 

When all the pasties are ready place the baking sheet into the oven for 15 minutes. 

Reduce the oven temperature to 350F and continue cooking for approx 20 -40 minutes depending on the size of the pasties.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

content source