Sauerkraut and mushroom pastries: A Christmas Eve delight
Preparing a traditional Christmas Eve dinner can be time-consuming. To make it more manageable, consider spreading tasks over several days to avoid making all the dishes at the last minute. It's also wise to choose dishes that can be prepared on the stove and in the oven. Puff pastry pies, for instance, will be ready in about 30 minutes, provided you prepare the filling in advance.
29 November 2024 18:41
Their rich filling is the secret to successful pies to serve with borscht. The dough should not overpower the filling; it should simply encase it. In this instance, a store-bought sheet of puff pastry is ideal. The buttery and crispy layer will complement the aromatic filling of sauerkraut and wild mushrooms.
How to prepare the filling for puff pastry pies?
You will need approximately 30 grams of dried mushrooms. These can be porcini, boletus, or a blend of different mushrooms. Soak them in warm water and leave them for 1 hour. After soaking, they should be soft. Remove, drain, and chop them into small cubes. Be sure to save the mushroom water for the next step.
Heat a pan and add a tablespoon of butter. Sauté finely chopped onion until fragrant, then add the chopped mushrooms. Squeeze the sauerkraut and place it in the pan, then pour in the mushroom-soaking water. Add salt, pepper, two bay leaves, and allspice. Let the mixture cook until the water evaporates. Check if the cabbage and mushrooms are tender. If not, add more water and cook for a while longer. Transfer the prepared filling to a bowl and let it cool.
Can you use frozen mushrooms for the pie filling?
They are perfectly suitable if you have mushrooms sautéed with onion in the freezer. Place them in a heated pan, and once they're tender, add the squeezed sauerkraut. A little butter won't hurt. Also, ensure there are enough spices.
Recipe for quick pies to serve with Christmas Eve borscht
Once the filling is prepared and cooled, you can start with the puff pastry. Begin by preheating the oven to 200°C. Preparing the pies will take about 5 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 1 sheet of puff pastry,
- 1 egg,
- sauerkraut and wild mushroom filling.
Instructions:
- Beat the egg in a small bowl. Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a board. Cut it in half lengthwise.
- Place the prepared filling along the longer edge of each sheet. Brush the other edge with the beaten egg. Starting from the filling side, roll the dough into a roll. Cut into pies about 4 cm wide.
- Place the pies on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the tops with the remaining egg. Optionally, sprinkle them with nigella seeds or sesame seeds.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
