Flaky puff pastry cases with sweet roasted beetroot and tangy cheese.
Serves 4 | Preparation: 20 minutes | Cooking: 70 minutes | Total: 100 minutes
Times include any chilling, resting or cooling stated below. Oven temperatures are conventional; reduce by 20°C for a fan oven.
Ingredients
320 g ready-rolled puff pastry sheet
3 medium beetroots
150 g soft goat’s cheese made with vegetarian rennet
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 egg, beaten
½ tsp salt
30 g walnuts, chopped
Method
Heat the oven to 200°C. Wrap the beetroots in foil with a little oil and roast until a knife slides in easily, about 50 minutes. Cool, peel and slice thinly.
Cut the pastry into 4 squares. Score a border 1 cm in from the edge, prick the centre with a fork and brush the border with egg.
Bake the squares until puffed and golden, about 10 minutes, then press the centres down gently.
Spread the goat’s cheese in the centres, layer on the beetroot, drizzle with honey and oil and scatter with thyme. Bake again for about 10 minutes.
Top with walnuts and serve warm.
Variations and substitutions
The beetroot can be roasted a day ahead.
For a vegetarian dish, choose cheese labelled suitable for vegetarians and check any other packaged ingredients.
Use vegetarian feta instead of goat’s cheese, or omit the walnuts and finish with pumpkin seeds. Plain cooked vacuum-packed beetroot saves roasting time; avoid pickled beetroot.
Homegrown and seasonal produce
Small homegrown beetroot roast more quickly than large roots; keep similar sizes together and test with a knife. Use thyme from a pot or border.
Storage and freezing
Cool cooked food promptly in shallow containers and refrigerate within 2 hours at 5°C or below. Eat within 48 hours. Freeze suitable portions for up to 3 months; defrost in the fridge, use within 24 hours and reheat once until piping hot throughout.
Explore our growing guides and From Garden to Kitchen guide. Plan your next harvest with Your Growing Companion.
Stock photograph illustrating the ingredients or a serving idea.
