🥐 Savory Puff Pastry with Minced Meat & Cheese

Flaky golden puff pastry filled with seasoned minced meat, onions, herbs, and melted cheese. Perfect for snacks, appetizers, lunchboxes, or party trays!

✅ Ingredients (Makes 8–12 pastries)

For the Filling

• 1 lb (450 g) minced beef or lamb

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2–3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• ½ teaspoon paprika

• ½ teaspoon cumin

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano or thyme

• ¼–½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)

• Salt to taste

For the Pastry

• 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)

• 1 cup shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, or a mix)

• 1 egg (for egg wash)

• Sesame seeds or nigella seeds (optional)

🍳 Instructions

1. Make the minced meat filling

1. Heat olive oil in a pan.

2. Sauté onions until soft.

3. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.

4. Add minced meat and cook until browned.

5. Add tomato paste, spices, herbs, and salt.

6. Cook 3–4 minutes until mixture thickens (no excess liquid).

7. Let cool completely before assembling.

2. Prepare the puff pastry

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Roll out the puff pastry sheet lightly.

3. Cut into squares or rectangles (about 3–4 inches each).

3. Assemble

1. Add 1–2 tablespoons of cooled meat filling onto the center.

2. Top with a pinch of cheese.

3. Fold pastry into desired shape:

   • triangles

   • rectangles

   • parcels

   • rolls

4. Press edges with a fork to seal.

4. Bake

1. Brush tops with egg wash.

2. Sprinkle sesame or nigella seeds if desired.

3. Bake 15–20 minutes, until puffed and golden brown.

5. Serve

Enjoy warm with:

• ketchup

• garlic sauce

• yogurt dip

• chili sauce

• tzatziki

⭐ Tips for Best Results

• Cool the filling completely so pastry stays crisp.

• Don’t overfill; puff pastry expands.

• Keep pastry cold — return it to the fridge if it becomes too soft.

• For extra flavor, add shredded cheese inside and on top.

• Use pre-rolled pastry for quick assembly.

❓ Q&A About Savory Puff Pastry with Minced Meat & Cheese

Q1: Can I use chicken or turkey mince instead of beef?

Yes! Any ground meat works — just adjust seasoning to taste.

Q2: Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble them and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.

Q3: Can I freeze them?

Absolutely!

• Freeze unbaked pastries on a tray, then store in bags.

• Bake from frozen at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes.

Q4: What cheese works best?

Mozzarella (melty), cheddar (flavorful), gouda, provolone, or a cheese blend.

Q5: Why is my puff pastry not rising?

Possible reasons:

• Oven wasn’t hot enough

• Pastry became warm before baking

• Overfilled, weighing it down

Q6: How do I prevent soggy bottoms?

• Let filling cool fully

• Bake on a preheated tray

• Avoid watery sauces in the filling

Q7: Can I make them vegetarian?

Yes! Replace meat with:

• sautéed mushrooms

• spinach + feta

• mashed potatoes + cheese

• lentils + spices.