SPINACH, FETA AND LEMON PASTIES

Preparation time 25 mins Cooking time 30 mins Makes 36

60g baby spinach leaves Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

and juice of ½ lemon

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 125g Danish feta, crumbled

2 tsp ground sumac

1 tsp dried mint

Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground

black pepper, to season

3 sheets frozen ready-rolled shortcrust pastry, partially thawed

1 free-range egg, lightly beaten Black and white sesame

seeds, to garnish

STEP 1 Put spinach in a large microwave-safe bowl and add

1 tsp water. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 45 seconds. Set aside, covered, for 10 minutes. STEP 2 Use your hands to squeeze excess water from spinach, then

finely chop and transfer to a second large bowl. Stir in lemon zest, juice and olive oil and mix thoroughly. Add feta, sumac and mint, then season and mix again.

STEP 3 Preheat oven to 180°C fan-forced (200°C conventional). Line 2 oven trays with baking paper.

STEP 4 Cut a pastry sheet in half to create 2 rectangles, then cut each rectangle widthways into 3 to create 6 rectangles. Cut each rectangle in half on the diagonal to create 12 right-angled triangles. Repeat with remaining sheets to make 36 triangles.

STEP 5 Put a tsp of spinach mixture in the middle of the widest end of each triangle. Starting at the spinach end, roll up the pastry towards the pointy end until the filling is enclosed and a croissant shape forms. Pinch the sides. Transfer pastries to prepared trays, seam-side down.

STEP 6 Brush the top of each pastry with a little of the egg. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to garnish and bake for 25 minutes or until pastry is golden. Set pasties aside on trays to cool slightly before serving warm.