Imagine a culinary masterpiece that combines the rustic charm of Southern cooking with elegant French-inspired pastry - a dish that transforms humble ingredients into a gourmet experience that will make your taste buds dance! These Black Eyed Peas and Greens Puff Pastry Baskets are not just a meal, they're a celebration of flavor, texture, and comfort that will transport you straight to a cozy Southern kitchen.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Cuisine: Southern
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 package puff pastry
- 1 cup black eyed peas, cooked
- 1 cup greens (collard or kale), chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Thaw the puff pastry according to package instructions, typically 30-40 minutes at room temperature.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onions and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute, being careful not to burn.
- Stir in chopped greens and cook until they are wilted and tender, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Add cooked black-eyed peas to the skillet, season with salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes to combine flavors. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Unfold the puff pastry and cut into 4 equal squares. Gently press each square into a greased muffin tin, creating basket-like shapes.
- Spoon the black-eyed peas and greens mixture evenly into each pastry basket.
- Brush the edges of the pastry with beaten egg for a golden, shiny finish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until pastry is puffed and golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Carefully remove baskets from muffin tin.
Tips
- Ensure your puff pastry is thoroughly thawed but still cool to the touch for the best rise and flakiness.
- Don't overfill your pastry baskets - leave a little room for the pastry to puff up beautifully.
- Use a pastry brush for an even egg wash to achieve that gorgeous golden-brown color.
- Let the filling cool slightly before adding to pastry to prevent soggy bottoms.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a sprinkle of smoked paprika or a dash of hot sauce to your black-eyed pea mixture.
- If you don't have a muffin tin, you can also create free-form baskets directly on a baking sheet.
- These baskets are best served immediately, but can be kept warm in a low oven for about 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 380kcal
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 12g
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Cholesterol: 45mg
