Description
Savory fig and goat cheese pinwheels offer a delightful Mediterranean-inspired appetizer that balances sweet and tangy flavors. Elegant party guests will appreciate these simple yet sophisticated rolled pastry bites with creamy cheese and jammy fig spread.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 4 oz (113 g) goat cheese, softened
- ½ cup (120 ml) fig jam or fig preserves
- ¼ cup (30 g) walnuts or pecans, chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
- 1 tablespoon honey, plus more for drizzling
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Pastry Preparation: Unfurl puff pastry onto a flour-dusted surface, creating a pristine rectangular foundation for the culinary masterpiece.
- Cheese Layer: Spread goat cheese evenly across the entire pastry surface, establishing a creamy base that will anchor the intricate flavor profile.
- Flavor Composition: Artfully distribute fig jam in graceful swirls, then generously cascade chopped walnuts and delicate thyme leaves across the canvas, creating a textural and aromatic landscape.
- Rolling Technique: Meticulously roll the pastry from the long edge into a compact log, ensuring all ingredients are seamlessly integrated and distributed.
- Portioning: Slice the log into precise one-inch pinwheel rounds using a razor-sharp knife, positioning them cut-side up on a parchment-lined baking sheet with minimal spacing.
- Pre-Baking Finish: Lavish the pinwheels with a luxurious egg wash, which will transform the exterior into a gleaming, golden-brown shell during the baking process.
- Baking Process: Slide the baking sheet into a preheated oven and bake until the pastry achieves a rich, caramelized complexion and crisp texture.
- Final Flourish: Emerge from the oven and embellish with an additional honey drizzle and fresh thyme sprinkle, serving these elegant morsels while warmth intensifies their complex flavor harmony.
Notes
- Select Premium Pastry: Choose high-quality, all-butter puff pastry for maximum flakiness and rich flavor.
- Chill Before Rolling: Refrigerate the pastry for 10-15 minutes to prevent sticking and make rolling easier.
- Balanced Flavor Distribution: Spread goat cheese and fig jam evenly to ensure consistent taste in every bite.
- Control Moisture: Pat walnuts dry to prevent excess moisture from making the pastry soggy during baking.
- Precise Cutting Technique: Use a sharp, clean knife and slice with a smooth, quick motion to maintain pinwheel shape.
- Temperature Matters: Bake at 400°F (200°C) for golden, crisp exterior and perfectly cooked interior.
- Dietary Adaptations: Replace goat cheese with dairy-free alternatives for vegan version; use gluten-free puff pastry for gluten-sensitive guests.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg