

As we settle in to spring and look forward to Easter time, my culinary thoughts turn to elegant greens. I can think of no more special an offering than hand-held, flaky turnovers stuffed to the edges with verdant leaves.
My friend Greg, an L.A.-based cookbook author, has the perfect recipe in his delightful first cookbook. How do I know? I tested it for him, using mustard greens, before the book was released. The pie girl in me adores savory pies, and his book is a wonderful resource for inspiration and creative recipes.
Grab some greens and make these, for a weekend lunch, for a light dinner along with some salad, or just for the best mid-day snack you ever want to meet. There are four people at home, and everyone got only one except me, and I got the rest. I’ll let you do the math, and I won’t tell you where I hid them.
Recipe: Gruyere and Greens Turnovers
Summary: Greens-filled hand-held turnovers are herbaceous, crispy and nutty from the Gruyere. Wonderful for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 2 (6-ounce) bags of young greens such as mustard, dandelion, spinach, kale
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 medium shallot, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Pinch cayenne pepper (or substitute cracked black pepper)
- Flour for rolling
- 1 (14-ounce) package frozen all-butter puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator*
- 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyere cheese (buy the good stuff)
- 1 large egg yolk mixed with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
Instructions
- Prepare an ice-water bath in a large bowl.
- Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil; add a few big pinches of salt. Working with a couple of handfuls at a time, quickly blanch the greens until well wilted (how long depends on type of greens). Transfer to the ice-bath as they finish to stop the cooking. Drain in a colander or salad spinner, then squeeze by fistfuls as dry as you can. Transfer greens to a cutting board and coarsely chop.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the foam subsides, add the shallot and cook until softened, stirring often, about 1 minute. Add the garlic and cook a minute more. Turn off the heat and mix in the greens while the pan is still warm. Season with salt and a pinch cayenne or black pepper. Set aside to cool.
- On a lightly floured work surface, use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out puff pastry to about a 10- by 15-inch rectangle, a scant 1/4 inch thick. Trim cleanly, using a ruler and a pizza cutter or sharp knife, and then cut in half lengthwise to make two strips about 5 by 15 inches. Cut crosswise into thirds, giving you six 5-inch squares. Space evenly on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets (they’ll brown better with plenty of space). Refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
- Stir the Gruyere into the cooled greens and divide into 6 equal portions. Using your hands, gently squeeze into dense palm-size oval balls.
- Brush egg wash along the edges of the dough pieces, using your finger. Place a mound of greens in the center and fold the dough diagonally over the filling, creating a triangle; press the edges to seal. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with a bit more salt (optional). Refrigerate until chilled, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place oven racks in top and center positions. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Bake the turnovers until puffed and golden brown 16-18 minutes; switch the sheets halfway through. Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Makes 6.
Recipe source
“Savory Pies: Delicious Recipes for Seasoned Meats, Vegetables and Cheeses Baked in Perfectly Flaky Crusts,” By Greg Henry (2012; Ulysses Press; $16.95)
*Puff pastry
1 1/2 sheets from a 17.3-ounce package of puff pastry can be cut into 5-inch squares and substituted for the 14-ounce package listed above.
Preparation time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 18 minutes
Diet type: Vegetarian
Number of servings (yield): 6
Culinary tradition: USA (General)
My rating
Disclosure: The publisher sent a copy of the cookbook for review.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, these are lovely – pinned!
Dean,
Thanks! I loved them! I think I truly ate them all…didn’t share. Don’t judge. 🙂
Even people who think they don’t like greens, will love these! Everything’s better wrapped in puff pastry :))
Priscilla,
Agree completely!
Spring Greens with a crunch. GREG
Greg,
Your recipe ROCKS!