Pesto Pastry Stars Recipes

PESTO PUFF PASTRY PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Dust a flat work surface lightly with flour. Unroll puff pastry sheet and roll out into a rectangle. Spread pesto evenly over puff pastry, smoothing it out with a spoon. Scatter pine nuts evenly over the pesto and top with grated Parmesan cheese.
• Roll puff pastry up tightly like a jelly roll from the longer side. Brush with milk to glaze.
• Slice puff pastry roll into 12 to 15 pinwheels about 1/2-inch-thick. Lay pinwheels on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each one.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pastry is lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Let sit for 1 minute on baking sheet before removing.

PESTO PUFF PASTRY PINWHEEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper and dust lightly with flour.
• Lay puff pastry on a flat work surface; cut a 12-inch circle from each sheet. Transfer 1 circle to the prepared baking sheet.
• Spread ricotta evenly over the pastry circle. Top with an even layer of pesto. Lay the second pastry circle on top. Set a small glass upside down in the middle of the circle.
• Cut the circle, away from the glass, into 4 equal quarters. Cut each quarter in half, then each eighth in half, to make 16 equal strips. Remove glass. Twist strips twice, two at a time, in the opposite direction. Pinch ends together. Repeat with remaining strips to make a pinwheel shape.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pastry is browned, 25 to 30 minutes.

PESTO PASTRY STARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to moderately hot (400°F - 205°C - Gas Mark 6).
• Combine butter and pesto in small bowl. Spread pesto mixture over pastry sheets, sprinkle with cheese.
• Using a 5.5 cm cutter, cut stars from pastry sheets, place onto lightly oiled oven trays.
• Bake, uncovered, for about 10 minutes or until puffed and browned, cool.

PESTO CHEESE STRAW CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unroll the two pastry sheets, keeping them on their baking parchment. Spread the pesto over one of the pastry sheets, then scatter over half of the grated cheese. Flip the second sheet of pastry on top and press to stick the two pastry sheets together. Remove the top layer of parchment.
• Cut out a Christmas tree shape - a large triangle with a little stump at the bottom, using as much of the pastry as possible. Cut a star shape out of the offcuts for the top of the tree. Reserve the rest of the offcuts. Lift the tree onto a large baking tray, brush with the beaten egg, then do the same with the star and press it on the tip. Scatter over the rest of the cheese and gently press to help it stick to the pastry.
• Cut vertical lines into the sides of the tree, about 1cm apart, leaving a 'trunk' of about 2cm up the middle. Twist the strips of pastry and stick them back down to the tray. Do this with all the pastry 'branches'. Cut the offcuts into straws, and arrange them on another baking tray. You can now wrap and chill the tree and offcuts for up to two days, freeze for two months, or bake straightaway.