Peas And Feta Puffs Recipes

FRITTATA WITH PEAS, HERBS AND FETA OR PARMESAN

Steps:

• Beat the eggs and milk in a bowl with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the peas, chopped herbs, and Parmesan or feta.
• Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy, 8-inch nonstick omelet pan. Drop a bit of egg into the pan and if it sizzles and cooks at once, the pan is ready. Pour in the egg mixture, scraping in every last bit with a heat-proof rubber spatula. Swirl the pan to distribute the eggs and filling evenly over the surface. Shake the pan gently, tilting it slightly with one hand while lifting up the edges of the frittata with the spatula in your other hand, to let the eggs run underneath during the first few minutes of cooking. Once a few layers of egg have cooked during the first couple of minutes of cooking, turn the heat down to low, cover and cook 7 to 10 minutes, until the frittata is puffed and just about set. From time to time remove the lid and loosen the bottom of the omelet with a wooden or heat-proof rubber spatula, tilting the pan, so that the bottom doesn't burn. It will however turn golden.
• If the frittata is still runny on the top, wearing oven mitts, slide the frittata out onto a plate or even better, a saucepan lid that has a handle, reverse the pan over the plate or lid, and holding the two together, flip the plate or lid so that the frittata goes back into the pan on its not-quite-cooked side. Finish for no longer than a minute, then reverse onto a platter. Allow to cool to room temperature, and serve, or chill. Cut into 4 wedges to serve. The wedges pack well and are very portable.

CRUSHED PEAS WITH FETA AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• If using fresh peas, shell them and cook briefly in boiling water until al dente, then drain well and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and crush them coarsely with a potato masher.
• If you are using frozen peas, blanch them briefly, drain exceptionally well, and crush before adding the oil, pouring off any more excess water at this stage; add the oil bit by bit and less liberally.
• Mash the feta and yogurt together in a shallow bowl. While the peas are still hot, add the feta and toss to combine. This is all about texture, not smoothness, as for a dip. Add the minced garlic.
• Now add the scallions and 2 tablespoons shredded mint. Stir in the juice of half a lemon to start with. Season with pepper and a little salt, if you think it is needed; feta is pretty salty. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more lemon juice, mint, or olive oil if you like.
• Serve in a shallow dish with a mound of warm, grilled pita bread.

BAKED FETA WITH PEAS, CHILLI & PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/ gas 8. Put the feta in a small baking dish and drizzle with 1 tbsp of the oil, then scatter over half the chilli and half the preserved lemon. Bake for 20 mins.
• Blanch the peas for 2 mins, then drain and, while still warm, toss with the remaining oil, chilli and preserved lemon, the mint and the lemon juice. Season.
• Spoon the peas into the baking dish around the feta, and top with extra mint leaves, the lemon zest and a drizzle of oil. Serve with crusty bread.

FETA PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Roll out pastry into a 14- by 10-inch rectangle (about 1/8 inch thick) on a lightly floured surface. Trim edges, preferably with a pizza wheel, and cut pastry lengthwise into 6 (1 1/2-inch-wide) strips. Chill strips on a baking sheet, covered with plastic wrap, until cold, about 10 minutes.
• Blend feta, cream, pepper, and 1 tablespoon egg in a food processor until smooth, then form into 21 balls on a work surface.
• Keeping remaining pastry covered, brush top of 1 strip with some of beaten egg. Starting 1/2 inch from one end and leaving 1/2 inch at opposite end, evenly space 7 cheese balls down center of strip. Cover with another pastry strip, pressing ends together, then press between balls of filling gently but firmly. Press pastry around each ball to seal top and bottom together and wipe away any filling that leaks out. Brush top of strip (but not sides) with some of egg and sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon thyme. Cut between mounds of filling to form squares and arrange pastries 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make more pastries with remaining strips, filling, and thyme.
• Bake in middle of oven until puffed and golden, about 12 minutes. Serve warm.
• Note: Unbaked pastries can be frozen, wrapped well in plastic wrap, 2 weeks. Thaw in refrigerator.

FETA PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Roll out pastry into a 14- by 10-inch rectangle (about 1/8 inch thick) on a lightly floured surface. Trim edges, preferably with a pizza wheel, and cut pastry lengthwise into 6 (1 1/2-inch-wide) strips. Chill strips on a baking sheet, covered with plastic wrap, until cold, about 10 minutes.
• Blend feta, cream, pepper, and 1 tablespoon egg in a food processor until smooth, then form into 21 balls on a work surface.
• Keeping remaining pastry covered, brush top of 1 strip with some of beaten egg. Starting 1/2 inch from one end and leaving 1/2 inch at opposite end, evenly space 7 cheese balls down center of strip. Cover with another pastry strip, pressing ends together, then press between balls of filling gently but firmly. Press pastry around each ball to seal top and bottom together and wipe away any filling that leaks out. Brush top of strip (but not sides) with some of egg and sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon thyme. Cut between mounds of filling to form squares and arrange pastries 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make more pastries with remaining strips, filling, and thyme.
• Bake in middle of oven until puffed and golden, about 12 minutes. Serve warm.

PEAS AND FETA PUFFS

Steps:

• Zest the lemon. Crumble the feta, and blend with the lemon zest. Cut the pancetta into thin slices.
• Clean the mint, dry it and remove the leaves. Clean and dry the large size peas.
• Roll out the puff pastry, and cut out 6 circles that are 3 1/2" to 4" wide. Put cooking paper on a baking tray, or use a silicone sheet, and put the pastry circles onto it.
• On each circle, put 2 or 3 big peas on one half only. Sprinkle some pancetta slices on this, then some feta. Put a couple of mint leaves onto this.
• Fold the empty half of the circle onto the other side, making a half circle, or half moon shape. Seal the edges, pinching with your fingers, or press down using a fork.
• Scramble the egg yolk, and then brush egg yolk onto the surface of each half circle.
• Bake for 20 minutes at 350F, or until browned.