Three Cheese Pastizzi Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Generously add salt and 3 tablespoons of oil and add the spaghetti. Bring back to a boil and cook for 11 to 13 minutes until the spaghetti is just tender. Drain into a colander and rinse under cold water. Return the spaghetti to the pot and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the garlic and onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes, kalamatas, 1 teaspoon of salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the tomatoes begin to break down.* Remove the mixture from the heat and set aside.
• Whisk the eggs and cream together in a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining teaspoon of salt, a few grinds of pepper, the red pepper flakes, basil, fontina, feta, 4 ounces of the Parmesan and the tomato mixture. Mix in the spaghetti.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in the 10-inch skillet over high heat. Add the spaghetti mixture, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven for 30 minutes until the center of the pie is set and the top is golden.
• Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Run a spatula around the edges and underneath the pie to loosen. Place a large plate over the skillet and invert the pie onto the plate. Place another plate onto the pie and invert again. Let the pie set for an additional 10 minutes.
• Slice the pie into 6 to 8 pieces and garnish with the remaining Parmesan and basil leaves before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, combine egg, cheese, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll each pastry sheet into a 10-inch square. Cut each sheet into six 3 1/2-inch rounds.
• Place 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture in center of each round. Bring up two opposite edges of dough over filling and pinch to seal. Place pastries, sealed sides up, on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. If desired, sprinkle with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Make-Ahead Directions: Prepare as directed; cool completely. Place pastries in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Freeze for up to 1 month. To serve, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place frozen pastries on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

Steps:

• Thaw puff pastry sheets.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and very lightly spray the parchment with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a bowl, mix together the ricotta, egg, garlic, parsley, oregano, parmesan, salt and pepper. If ricotta becomes mushy (too much liquid), place a paper towel over the top of the bowl and set bowl aside until ready to bake, to allow the paper towel to absorb some of the excess liquid.
• Once thawed, cut 3″ circles in each pastry sheet using a biscuit cutter (or an overturned glass would work OK). You'll need about 16 to 20 pastry circles, depending on the size of the cutter you use.
• Fill each pastry circle with a teaspoon of the ricotta mixture. Fold one side of the pastry circle toward the middle, then fold the other side over the filling. Pinch the two ends together to form a seal. Then pinch all sides to seal the filling inside the pastry shell. Don't worry too much if they're bumpy and unsightly, as they'll puff up and should form a nice shape during baking.
• Place the filled pastizzi on the lined baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and evenly browned. Cool slightly, and serve warm with a hot cup of tea or coffee. To reheat cooled pastizzi, heat for about 5 minutes in oven (350°F/ 180°C) or until heated throughout.