Spinach and pine nut rolls

They are filling on their own, but also really good with something light, like a green salad, if it’s closer to lunch time.

Spinach and pine nut rolls Credit: Alan Benson

• makes

  10

• prep

  15 minutes

• cook

  25 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

When I was growing up, these vegetable rolls were another form of the traditional bourekas—a savoury pastry. The rolls can be made in advance, sliced and frozen, ready to be baked at a later date when you don’t feel like cooking.

Ingredients

• 400 g (14 oz/2 bunches) English spinach
• 4 tbsp olive oil, plus 3 tbsp extra, for glazing
• 1 small brown onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• ½ tsp chilli flakes
• 4 store-bought all-butter puff pastry sheets
• plain (all-purpose) flour, for rolling
• 100 g (3½ oz/⅔ cup) pine nuts, toasted
• 200 g (7 oz) feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Instructions

Coarsely chop the leaves and stems of the English spinach. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil. Blanch the spinach for 30 seconds, then drain and refresh in icy cold water. Squeeze out any excess liquid, then set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic for 3–4 minutes, until transparent but not coloured. Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool to room temperature.

Mix the spinach into the onion and garlic and season with the chilli flakes, salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Place a 30 x 30 cm (12 in) sheet of pastry on a lightly floured surface. Spread the spinach mixture over the pastry sheet, leaving a 2 cm (¾ in) strip free along one edge. Sprinkle the pine nuts and feta over the spinach. Brush the empty pastry strip with the beaten egg and then, starting at the opposite side, firmly roll

up the pastry into a roulade. Don’t roll it so tightly that the mixture squeezes out though. Repeat with the other pastry sheets.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a large baking tray with baking paper.

Using a serrated knife (see Note), cut the roulade into 10 equal pieces. Place on the baking tray (do not overcrowd the tray as the rolls will double in size). Bake the rolls for 18–20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.

Remove the tray from the oven and use a pastry brush to glaze the rolls with the extra olive oil. Set the rolls aside to cool slightly before serving warm.

 

Note

• It is important to use a serrated knife to cut the roulade in order to give a clean cut that will allow the pastry to puff up.

Hummus and Co by Michael Rantissi and Kristy Frawley (Murdoch Books, RRP $49.99) Photography by Alan Benson.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

When I was growing up, these vegetable rolls were another form of the traditional bourekas—a savoury pastry. The rolls can be made in advance, sliced and frozen, ready to be baked at a later date when you don’t feel like cooking.