Spinach Braid Recipes

SPINACH IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat the butter in a saute pan and cook the onions over medium-low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Meanwhile, squeeze most of the water out of the spinach and place it in a bowl. Add the onion mixture, scallions, Gruyere, Parmesan, eggs, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and pignolis. Mix well.
• Unfold one sheet of puff pastry and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread the spinach mixture in the middle of the pastry, leaving a 1-inch border. Brush the border with the egg wash. Roll out the second piece of puff pastry on a floured board until it's an inch larger in each direction. Place the second sheet of pastry over the spinach and seal the edges, crimping them with a fork. Brush the top with egg wash but don't let it drip down the sides or the pastry won't rise. Make three small slits in the pastry, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the pastry is lightly browned. Transfer to a cutting board and serve hot.

SPANAKOPITA PUFF PASTRY BRAID

Steps:

• ​Preheat the oven to 400 °F, 200 °C.
• ​Begin by preparing the spinach filling. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, feta, ricotta cheese, dill, salt, pepper, and scallions. Mix well until the spinach is completely coated with the cheeses and all of the ingredients are well incorporated.
• Taste and check for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper if needed.
• Beat the egg and add to the spinach mixture. Mix well until incorporated and set aside.
• ​
• Lightly dust your work surface with some all-purpose flour. Roll out each sheet of puff pastry to a 12" by 15" rectangle. Place the puff pastry sheet on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
• Make an even number of diagonal cuts down each side (approx. 1 inch apart) of the rectangle.
• Divide the spinach filling into 2 portions.
• Spread the spinach and cheese mixture down the center of the prepared puff pastry.
• Fold the diagonal strips of dough in a criss-cross pattern over the filling, forming a braid.
• Press the ends together to seal the top and bottom.
• Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
• Chill in the freezer for 15 minutes or in the refrigerator for 25 minutes.
• Bake in the center rack of the oven until puffed and golden brown. About 30-35 minutes.
• Allow to cool completely before serving.
• Serve with tzaztiki sauce.
• Make ahead tips:
• The puff pastry braid can be assembled, chilled in the freezer until firm then wrapped with parchment paper and foil until ready to bake.
• The frozen (uncooked) braid can be store in the freezer up to 3 weeks.
• When ready to bake, brush with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar and bake until puffed and golden. About 45-50 minutes.

SAUSAGE, MUSHROOM & SPINACH PIZZA BRAID

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray, or line with cooking parchment paper.
• In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook Italian sausage 6 to 8 minutes over medium heat, until no longer pink; drain. Stir in mushrooms; cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are lightly browned and tender. Stir in spinach leaves; cook until just starting to wilt. Remove from heat; stir in pizza sauce.
• Unroll dough on cookie sheet to 13x8-inch rectangle. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the cheese in 3 1/2-inch-wide strip lengthwise down center of dough all the way to ends; top cheese with sausage mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
• Make cuts 1 inch apart on each side of rectangle just to edge of filling. Alternating from side to side, fold cut strips of dough at an angle halfway across filling, slightly overlapping ends.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High 20 to 30 seconds or until melted; stir in Italian seasoning. Brush butter mixture on top of braided crescent dough.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serve with additional pizza sauce, if desired.

BRAISED SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a very large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add 1/3 of the spinach and saute until it begins to wilt, about 1 to 2 minutes. Continue adding the spinach 1 handful at a time, sauteing just until it begins to wilt before adding more. Add the soy sauce and crushed red pepper. Saute over high heat until spinach wilts. Season the mixture, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and serve.

SPINACH SAUSAGE BRAID

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F
• Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently. Then drain.
• In large bowl, mix spinach, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic and cooked sausage.
• Press dough into 13x8-inch rectangle, seal seams, if any. I like to do this on top of silpat so it is easy to put on the baking pan.
• Spoon sausage mixture in 4-inch-wide strip lengthwise down center of rectangle.
• Top with slices of both cheeses.
• With scissors or sharp knife, make cuts 1 inch apart on long sides of dough rectangle to within 1/2 inch of sausage mixture. Fold strips of dough up over sausage mixture to meet in center; pinch to seal.
• Bake 18 to 24 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet; cut into crosswise slices.
• Serve warm.