Puff pastry Christmas tree

Puff pastry Christmas tree

Spinach, feta and sundried tomato Christmas tree
  • SERVES 8
  • Easy
  • 20 min
  • 25 min - 30 min
RECIPE DEVELOPED BY:
The ICA chef lecturers
STYLING & PHOTOGRAPHY:
ICA Team
WINE PAIRING:

Filling

200g baby spinach, washed

30ml water

200g feta cheese, crumbled

150g sundried tomato, roughly chopped

zest of 1 lemon,

3 sprigs of thyme, leaves removed

20g parmesan, finely grated

salt and pepper, to taste

1 large egg, beaten

 

Assembly

Christmas tree and star template, cut out

2 x 400g puff pastry rolls, defrosted

Bread flour for dusting

Water for sealing

1 large egg, beaten

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 200˚C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  2. For the filling, sauté the spinach with the water in a frying pan for about 1 min until the spinach is wilted. Allow to cool and squeeze out as much liquid as possible, using a muslin cloth or the back of a spoon and a sieve.
  3. Mix the spinach, feta, sundried tomato, lemon zest, thyme, parmesan in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
  4. Add the egg and mix until combined. Set aside.
  5. Dust the worksurface with bread flour and unroll the pastry. Roll each sheet with a rolling pin to ensure the tree template fits.
  6. Cut out one tree and one star from each sheet.
  7. Place one teaspoon of filling in the middle of the star and brush the edges with water, place the second star on top and press down gently securing the edges.
  8. Place one pastry tree on the baking sheet and spread the filling out evenly, leaving a 1cm border around the sides.
  9. Brush the border with water and place the second tree on top of the filling, press down gently securing the edges.
  10. Secure the star at the top of the tree with a drop of water.
  11. Brush the tree and star with the egg wash.
  12. Cut 3 cm wide strips all along the sides for the branches. Twist each strip and press down gently at the end of the strip. Rest in the fridge for 10 minutes.
  13. Place the baking tray with the tree one rack below the middle of the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown in colour.

TIPS

  1. Use mince pie filling for a sweet Christmas variation. Dust with icing sugar after baking.
  2. Use all offcuts to create cheese topped puff pastry stars. Perfect to accompany a cheese board.

Create a festive centerpiece with this Spinach, Feta, and Sundried Tomato Christmas Tree made from golden puff pastry. Filled with a savoury mix of cheese, vibrant spinach, and tangy sundried tomatoes, this easy 45-minute recipe serves 8 — perfect for parties or a show-stopping appetiser.

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