🎄 Spinach & Ricotta Pastry Trees
These festive spinach and ricotta pastry trees are a delightful addition to your Christmas spread, combining creamy ricotta with savory spinach in a fun, tree-shaped presentation.
Dietary: vegetarian
Category: appetizer
Ingredients
- 300 g Ricotta cheese (substitutions: Cottage cheese)
- 250 g Frozen chopped spinach (substitutions: Fresh spinach)
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese (substitutions: Nutritional yeast for vegan option)
- 1 pinch Nutmeg (substitutions: Allspice)
- to taste Salt (substitutions: Soy sauce for a savory kick)
- to taste Pepper (substitutions: Cayenne pepper for heat)
- 2 Eggs (substitutions: Flax eggs for vegan option)
- as needed Olive oil spray (substitutions: Cooking spray)
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Wooden sticks
- Oven
- Baking tray
Instructions
-
Step 1: Defrost the frozen spinach completely.
What to look for: Spinach should be soft and pliable.
Watch out: Avoid cooking the spinach; it should just be thawed.
-
Step 2: Squeeze out all the excess liquid from the thawed spinach.
What to look for: The spinach should be dry and crumbly.
Watch out: Don't skip this step; excess moisture can make the mixture soggy.
-
Step 3: In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan, eggs, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
What to look for: The mixture should be smooth and well combined.
Watch out: Ensure no lumps of ricotta remain.
-
Step 4: Refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes.
What to look for: The mixture should firm up slightly.
Watch out: Don't skip chilling; it helps with shaping.
-
Step 5: Remove pastry from the freezer and roll it out if necessary.
What to look for: The pastry should be pliable but not too soft.
Watch out: Keep the pastry cold; it’s easier to work with.
-
Step 6: Spread a thin layer of the ricotta mixture onto the pastry and cut it into 1 cm ribbons.
What to look for: The ribbons should be even and not too thick.
Watch out: Avoid overfilling the pastry; it can burst while cooking.
-
Step 7: Thread the ribbons onto wooden sticks to resemble a tree shape.
What to look for: The ribbons should hold their shape on the stick.
Watch out: Make sure the ribbons are secure; they should not fall off.
-
Step 8: Spray the assembled trees with olive oil.
What to look for: A light sheen on the pastry.
Watch out: Don’t overspray; too much oil can lead to sogginess.
-
Step 9: Cook the trees in a preheated oven until golden brown.
What to look for: The pastry should be golden and crisp.
Watch out: Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
Original source: tiktok
Guided step-by-step with AI-powered photo feedback on Kitchen's Witch.