Mini Spinach Potato Knish Appetizer Recipes

SUPER EASY POTATO KNISHES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400F/204C.
• MAKE POTATO MIXTURE: To fry onions, heat oil on medium heat and sauté onions for 5-6 minutes just until slightly brown. Combine mashed potatoes and caramelized onions in a medium bowl with a fork. Season with salt and pepper - or 2 tablespoons of dry onion soup mix - to taste. You can omit the salt and pepper if you are using leftover mashed potatoes that are already seasoned.
• MAKE KNISHES: You will make two rolls of knishes from each sheet of puff pastry. On a lightly floured surface, unroll one sheet of puff pastry dough. It should be about 1/4 inch/0.63cm thick or less. Stretch out or roll dough a bit if necessary. Spread potato filling to resemble a log - about 2 inches/5cm thick - along one side of the rolled dough. Fold dough over the potato about 1 1/2 times in a jelly-roll fashion, making a log/roll. Cut away remaining dough with a sharp knife for the next roll. Tuck ends and pinch seams together well (to ensure filling doesn't seep out). Repeat with other half of dough on the same sheet of dough. Then do the same with the second sheet of dough. If you have extra dough and potato mixture left over, make a 5th roll.
• BAKE: Place rolls on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, seam side down. Brush egg wash on rolls which will create a glazed golden look (optional). Bake for 25-30 minutes to a golden brown flaky pastry. If any potato mixture seeps out, tuck it back into the knish roll with a knife.
• TO SERVE: Cut rolls of finished knishes into 2 inch/5 cm pieces on the diagonal and serve. To make ahead (recommended!) see Note 2.

SPINACH POTATO KNISH

Steps:

• For the dough: Put the flour in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse as you pour the oil through the feed tube. Scrape down the sides of the processor and pulse again.
• Combing the seltzer and vinegar in a measuring cup. Add 1 teaspoon salt and stir to dissolve. Pulse as you pour the liquid through the feed tube into the flour mixture, 20 to 30 seconds. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 1 minute. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• For the filling: Put the potatoes in a saucepan, cover with water and season the water liberally with salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until tender and a fork inserted in the center goes in without any resistance, 35 to 40 minutes. Drain and cool slightly. (You can put the potatoes in the freezer for a few minutes to hurry along the cooling process.)
• Meanwhile, place the spinach in a clean dishtowel, wrap tightly and wring out as much liquid as possible. Roughly chop the spinach and reserve.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and stir to combine. Turn off the heat and reserve.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature just until it is pliable, 30 to 45 minutes.
• When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, use the side of a spoon to peel away the skins. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Add the cream and remaining tablespoon of oil and coarsely mash. Add the spinach mixture to the mashed potatoes and gently stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly brush a baking sheet with oil.
• To make the knishes: Put the dough on a floured sheet of parchment and dust the top with flour. Stretch the dough into a 6-by-8-inch rectangle, then use a rolling pin to roll it into a 12-by-18-inch rectangle. Arrange the dough with one of the long sides of the rectangle facing you. Put the filling along the length of the dough and shape it into a compact 14-by-2-inch log, leaving a 2-inch border of dough on the side closest to you and on each end. Use the parchment paper to help roll the dough around the filling, brushing off the flour as you roll and stretching the dough as needed to make a tight, dough-covered log.
• Pinch the dough closed along the center seam, then carefully turn the roll seam-side down on the parchment. Pull on the dough at each end of the log to twist and seal it closed; pinch off the excess dough. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, divide the log into 3 even sections, pressing down through the log to seal the segments. (The log will resemble three links of sausage.) With a sharp knife, cut through the connections and separate the links. Pinch the ends to ensure that each seal is secure. Cut each of the links in half crosswise to make 6 knishes total. Arrange the knishes cut-side up, pressing to flatten each into a disk about 1 1/2-inches thick.
• Arrange the knishes on the prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake 30 minutes; liberally brush the knishes all over with oil and continue baking until golden, 25 to 35 minutes more. Serve with mustard.

SPINACH POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
• Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, and saute the onion and pancetta until onion is tender and pancetta is cooked through.
• Alternately layer the potato slices, salt and pepper, pancetta and onion mixture, spinach, and cheese in the prepared baking dish. Pour the heavy cream over all.
• Cover, and bake 1 hour in the preheated oven. Uncover, and continue baking 30 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.