SPINACH & CHEESE ROLLS

Preparation time: <45 mins | Makes: approx. 6 serves

INGREDIENTS

• 450-500g frozen spinach (thawed and drained very well)

• 200g hard full fat Greek feta cheese

• 150g ricotta

• 2 eggs

• 3 spring onions sliced (white and light green part only)

• 1/2 bunch of fresh flat leaf parsley chopped

• 1/2 bunch fresh dill chopped

• zest of 1 lemon

• 1-2 sheets frozen wholemeal spelt butter puff pastry (I use Carême) thawed

• Sea salt and cracked pepper

• 2 tablespoons fennel seeds

• To serve: good quality tomato sauce and/or a couple of lemon wedges

METHOD

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C and set aside a large baking tray with parchment paper.

2. In a medium size mixing bowl, add your feta, ricotta, spinach, herbs, 1 egg, lemon zest and salt and pepper.

3. Mix with clean hands until combined. You could do this with a mixing spoon however I find using your hands best to ensure your spinach is broken apart, after all that squeezing to drain it.

4. Divide your pastry into sections and place your spinach mix along the long edge of each section before rolling into sausage shapes. You want to make sure your pastry seam is on the bottom of each roll when placing them onto your baking tray. You can make these as big or small as you like, don’t be afraid to get creative with different pastry shapes!

5. In a small bowl whisk your egg to make an egg wash that you will paint over your rolls.

6. With a sharp knife, make diagonal slits along the lengths of your sausage rolls, and then brush each of them with the egg wash generously.

7. Sprinkle your fennel seeds over each of your sausage rolls and then pop them in the oven to bake for roughly 25 mins or until nice and golden brown on top. You want to check the sides of each of your rolls and ensure the pastry is cooked all over.

8. Wrap any leftovers in aluminium foil or pop them into a glass container and store in the fridge for up to two days. Enjoy!

    

   I love to make these when we are entertaining at home, and can be the star of a meal if served with a nice Greek salad. Or, they’re the perfect comfort snack for a snuggly afternoon on the couch.