Pecorino Pepper Puffs
These are the perfect accompaniment to a cocktail. Make them in advance, freeze them, and they go from freezer to oven just in time for guests to arrive for cocktails 💫
1 sheet of Dufor puff pastry, defrosted according to package directions
2 Tablespoons whole black peppercorns
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup pecorino cheese
1 whole egg whisked
All purpose flour
Place your peppercorns in a small plastic bag and crush using a mallet or rolling pin. Until you have various sizes.
Combine both cheeses and the crushed peppercorns in a bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the mixture for later use.
Dust your work surface with flour. Unfold puff pastry. Using a rolling pin dusted with flour, roll out your puff pastry to measure approximately 10x16 inches. (It comes 9x15 so you are rolling it out about an extra inch on each side.)
Prick the puff pastry all over with a fork.
Sprinkle with 1 3/4 cups of cheese-peppercorn mixture. Use a rolling pin and roll over the cheese peppercorn mixture to press it into the puff pastry. Cut the long side of the puff pastry into eight 2” strips. Cut the short side into four 2.5” strips. TIP: A pizza cutter makes this super easy! Fold each piece in half. Make a small pile of flour on your work surface. Dip your fork in the flour and then press your fork into all four sides of the piece of folded puff pastry to seal the it. The pieces will look like pieces of ravioli.
Place bites on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Making in advance? Place in freezer for 20 minutes. Remove bites from the baking sheet and place in a large ziplock bag to store in the freezer for later use.
If you want to bake right away, place the bites in the fridge for 15 minutes.
To bake, whisk together one egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Using a pastry brush, brush the top of each bite with egg wash. Use the reserved 1/4 cup of Parmesan-pepper mixture to sprinkle over the tops of bites.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place baking sheet in oven for 8 minutes. Turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake an additional 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes.
