Cheeses
Savory cheese pies are an excellent choice for a delicious snack, perfect for any occasion. These delightful cheese pastries are quick and easy to prepare, and their fluffy texture and intense flavor are sure to impress at your table. In this recipe, I will show you step by step how to make them, sharing some useful tips to achieve the best results.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 25 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12 savory pies
Ingredients you will need:
- 500 g puff pastry (you can use store-bought pastry to save time)
- 300 g telemea or feta cheese (or a combination of sweet and salty cheese)
- 1 egg
- 100 g sour cream (optional, for added creaminess)
- 1 egg yolk for brushing (optional, for a golden crust)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Sesame or cumin seeds (for decoration, optional)
Preparation method:
1. Start by preheating the oven to 200°C. This step is essential for achieving even baking and a perfectly crispy crust.
2. In a bowl, crumble the chosen cheese (telemea, feta, or a combination) and mix it with the sour cream, if you choose to use it. This ingredient will add a creamy texture and enhance the flavor. Add salt and pepper to taste, being careful not to overdo it with the salt, as the cheese is already salty.
3. On a flat surface, roll out the puff pastry into a thin sheet, being careful not to make it too thin to avoid tearing when filling. Cut the pastry into squares of about 10 cm.
4. In each square, place a spoonful of the cheese filling, leaving a small space at the edges to seal the pie. Fold the corners to form a triangle or rectangle, then press the edges with a fork to seal them well.
5. Place the pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. If you want a golden and shiny crust, brush them with the beaten egg yolk. You can sprinkle sesame or cumin seeds on top for extra flavor.
6. Bake the pies in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden and crispy. The aromas will fill the kitchen, and the final result will be amazing.
7. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving. These snacks are delicious both warm and cold, perfect to be enjoyed alongside a yogurt dip or a fresh salad.
Serving suggestion: Savory pies are wonderful at a party, but they can also be a quick snack at the office or at home. Add a yogurt dip with mint or a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers for a fresh contrast.
Possible variations: You can experiment with different fillings, using goat cheese, mozzarella, or even sautéed vegetables. Also, if you want a sweet version, you can use cottage cheese mixed with sugar and vanilla to create a sweet pie variant.
These savory pies are definitely a simple and quick recipe that will bring smiles to your face and applause from your loved ones. Enjoy every bite of these melt-in-your-mouth delights, and feel free to customize them to your taste!
If you want to prepare cheese pastries, you need flour, cheese, sugar, and yeast. The recipe is very good and easy to prepare. After weighing the flour, sift it into a bowl. Then, in a larger glass, crumble the 2 cubes of yeast, add a tablespoon of sugar from the total amount, and 2 tablespoons of warm milk, then place the yeast mixture in the center of the flour, in a crater made beforehand. After 5-10 minutes, the yeast will bubble up. Then, over the yeast and flour in the bowl, add the whole eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla sugar, and salt, but do not add the oil yet. Start mixing with a wooden spoon, and when everything is combined in the bowl, add the oil while continuing to mix. If the dough sticks to the bowl, start adding more flour, but little by little, and keep mixing all the time. The next step: kneading. You need to obtain a pliable, non-sticky dough that springs back when you press it with your finger. Do not be tempted to add more flour just to make kneading easier, so be careful. To make it easier, place the dough on a floured surface and knead it (grease your hands with oil while kneading, it’s easier!). After kneading, place the dough in a bowl and leave it in a warm place for at least 30-40 minutes (I put it in the preheated oven at 35 degrees). While the dough rises, we prepare the filling. In a bowl, put the cheese, sugar, semolina, grated lemon zest, and egg yolks. Start mashing with a fork. Add the beaten egg whites with a wooden spoon. Gently fold in the beaten egg whites with the spoon, and if you like, you can add raisins. Then set the prepared filling aside and turn your attention to the dough in the bowl, check its level. Do not knead the dough again; it is not necessary. Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a sheet. The dough should be about 1/2 cm thick. Cut into equal squares. The folding technique is simple: place a spoonful of cheese inside, and then bring the corners together like a letter. After folding the pastries, let them rest in a warm place for about 20-25 minutes to rise a bit more so they will puff up more in the oven. Brush them with a beaten egg yolk mixed with about 3-4 tablespoons of milk and bake in the oven at 175 degrees, in the middle of the oven, for 30-35 minutes. The pastries are dusted with vanilla sugar and served warm.
Ingredients: Dough: 450 g flour, 2 eggs, 3 tablespoons oil, 1 cup warm milk, 50 g yeast, 4 tablespoons sugar, 3 packets vanilla sugar, a pinch of salt. Filling: 250 g cow cheese, 4 tablespoons sugar, 1 heaping tablespoon semolina, grated lemon zest.
