This is a quick, easy and tasty dish that can be served as a side dish, a starter, or just a quick lunch snack with a leafy salad.
Serves 2-3
1 sheet rolled puff pastry (320-375g)
3-4 tablespoons H.O.C Pear flare chutney
Courgette/zucchini
Coloured peppers (red, yellow)
Red onion
Seasoning (Pinch oregano or mixed herbs, Black pepper, salt)
100g feta cheese
- Roll out the puff pastry onto a baking tray. Follow package instructions as most puff pastry is easier to work with when left out of the fridge for ~5minutes.
- Spread chutney evenly over the top.
- Thinly slice the veg and spread generously over the top, layering in the order listed. Ensure to cover the chutney to avoid burning.
- Sprinkle seasoning over the top, and bake according to puff pastry instructions (typically ~200°C/180°C fan oven, Gas mark 7, 390°F for 20-25minutes).
- Once baked and pastry is golden, take out of the oven and crumble the feta evenly over the top. Season lightly with black pepper.
- Slice into 8 pieces, serve and enjoy!
How much veg to use?
I use homegrown veg in my recipes, so 1 full pepper may equate to approximately half a large supermarket pepper.
The key to this pastry is to cover the chutney with soft veg like courgettes as the moisture helps prevent the chutney burn. However, you don't want to weigh the pastry down, so less is more in terms of other toppings!
Because it uses small amounts, this dish is also a good way to use up those left over bits and pieces of veg, so feel free to mix up the toppings according to whatever you have in your fridge (avoid harder veg, such as carrots, as they take longer to soften than the pastry takes to bake in the oven)
How thin is 'thinly sliced'?
Half a centimeter (50mm) -ish
I'm not a perfectionist, and incredibly lazy when it comes to cooking sometimes. We want the veg to cook evenly with the pastry: too thin and it's at risk of burning, too thick and it's at risk of being undercooked, which in turn makes the pastry soggy.
How much seasoning to use?
The Pear Flare chutney is the flavour boat.
The seasoning is more for "aesthetic appeal" than actual flavouring, so this can be entirely up to your taste.
Can I substitute the cheese?
Yes, vegan feta made from tofu works well. You could even skip the cheese entirely if you prefer. Its primary function is to cut the sweet of the chutney and veg combination with a tangy saltiness (yum!). This can also be achieved by using less chutney (~2/3tablespoons) and green peppers or other bitter veg, such as aubergine/egg plant instead of courgette.
How well does this keep/Shelf life?
H.O.C Pear Flare Chutney lasts when stored in the fridge for up to 1 month after being opened.
Flakey puff pastry is best eaten when fresh. But as there's no meat, this can travel well for picnics or packed lunches if stored upright (roll individual slices into fingers for mess-free eating).
Store in 4°C fridge when cooled for up to 3days. Cover in foil/ bees wax paper to prevent absorbing that 'fridge' taste.
If you want to reheat the pastry, avoid adding the feta until after it has been re-baked to avoid charring the cheese.