Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Puff Pastry Rolls



My post today was suppose to be about vegetables. Grilled vegetables to be exact. But no vegetables were grilled. More on that later.
Instead I invite you to have a bite of those ricotta cheese and dill rolls.  They are very easy and quick to make: one package of puff pastry, a cup of ricotta cheese, one egg, a tablespoon of dill, a little salt. Mix all together, spread the filling on the dough (package of puff pastry usually comes with two sheets of dough, so the filling is enough for both), roll it, cut into 1/2 inch pieces, brush the top of each "floret" with egg wash, and bake 15-20 minutes in 400F oven. 
I call it an emergency feast when I have to change my dinner plans and make something really quick but somewhat fancy. The filling can be sweet or savory, better yet make one sheet savory, and another fill with jam to make a dessert. Possibilities are endless here! 
Usually I don't go for a store bought dough, the only exceptions are puff pastry and filo dough. I am in the process of mastering my puff pastry. I've done it twice and it's a long and labor intensive way that requires more practice. I am learning from Julia Child's book, where folding butter in the dough, then cooling, then folding again is required. 

If you know any shortcuts, please, do share!

See you,
Marina

58 comments:

  1. These rolls look delicious, great photo!

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    1. Thank you! they were delicious, next time I'll make a double batch! :)

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  2. Yummy. Do you buy frozen puffed pastry and filo dough?

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    1. Hi Sheila, I am practicing my puff pastry skills but this time I used frozen from the store. I am not at the comfortable point to share my puff pastry, not yet. :) I also buy a filo dough, that one definitely takes some extensive training to learn how to make. May be some day I'll go to Greece and learn from the masters...:)

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  3. Marina, this has several of my favourite things including puff pastry, ricotta and dill! :D I bet they taste great straight from the oven! :D

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    1. Lorraine, you just became my very best friend: welcome to the dill community! :)

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  4. These rolls have so many delicious ingredients :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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    1. Hi Uru, yes, they do. And at the same time they are simple. :)

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  5. it looks really delicious! *.*

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  6. I bet these are incredible! My mouth is watering just looking at it!

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    1. Della, I wish you lived closer so we could have some tea or coffee with those rolls...:)

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  7. The rolls look amazing! Great idea for parties, quick, easy and delicious! ;-)

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    1. Yes Ruth, and very versatile too, so many possibilities! :)

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  8. These look fantastic, I can see how they could have endless variations! I've done puff pastry from scratch and yes it is very labor-intensive. It's delicious but usually I don't have that much time to spare. Frozen puff pastry is just fine with me!

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    1. Hi Chris, I am not that comfortable with frozen one because of extra ingredients, but as a quick fix I keep a box in my freezer for days like this one... :)

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  9. I love easy recipes like this! I don't do enough with puff pasty - it's such good stuff. I've never made it from scratch, but Julia Child certainly is thorough in her instructions (I believe she also has an easier, "mock" version - you don't need to do all the folds - but the original is probably better). Funny, I've been thinking about learning to make puff pasty (one of the great things about blogging is it gives you an incentive to do all of those back burner ideas that you'd otherwise probably never get around to). My goo-to quickie meal is a quick bacon pasta sauce. Put enough water on the burner to cook the pasta. Meanwhile dice a medium onion and a couple of cloves of garlic - put in a pan to very lightly brown. Slice up about 1/3 to 1/2 pound bacon. Brown in another pan. Add crushed tomato to onions plus seasonings (red pepper flakes are god). Right about now the pasta water should be ready - add a pound of tubular pasta like ziti. Also right about now the bacon should be browned - drain (or not) and add to the tomato. When the pasta is done, so is the tomato sauce. (The tomato sauce is slightly - but just slightly - better if cooked for another 20 minutes or so, but of course then it's not a quick recipe.) Serves 4. If you want a more substantial dinner, while the pasta is cooking make a salad!

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    1. Hi John, thank you for the great comment! I was glad that I choose Julia Child, her instructions are easy to follow and she has a very clever explanation. I love your go-to quick meal, pasta makes wonderful meal, and possibilities are endless with it! My men would love the bacon in it. :)

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  10. I agree, I make pie crusts, but puff pastry is definitely store bought - these look amazing!! Company worthy for sure. :D

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    1. Thank you! Agree, store bought is convenient. I wonder if they have some organic or mo healthy option?

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  11. Oh my those look good! I love dill and it's not an herb I think to use often.

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    1. Lol, this is definitely the herb I use in pounds per year! :) I am a big dill addict, did you know I even make a tea out of dill seeds?! :)

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  12. These rolls are so simple to put together. I love having rolls with my meals!

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    1. When we have those rolls, it is our meal! :)

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  13. What perfect timing for your post . . . I have ricotta left in my frig left over from my stuffed zucchini blossoms and will certainly try this recipe Marina! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind compliment! Buon Appetito! Roz

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    1. Hi Roz, that's what I did: I had some ricotta to be used, and it was a perfect solution as I don't like to through away food...
      Thanks for visiting me too! Please, do come back! :)

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  14. They look delicious Marina! I have never tried making puff pastry, but I have always wanted to!

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    1. If you find a recipe you like, let me know! :)

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  15. Whoa.. I had to look twice to believe they were made with puff pastry dough. They look wonderful!

    I've never made puff pastry at home. I've considered making a rough puff but that's as far as I've gotten... considering. :)

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    1. Thank you Maureen! I will give it a few more tries and see if it's worth making or just buying in the store. I do love the idea of making dough from scratch though... :)
      Do you have anywhere on your blog a recipe for rough puff pastry?

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  16. What a great idea, Marina, and, better still, there are so many possible variations. Whenever I make ricotta for a specific dish, there's always some left over. I've always got puff pastry in the freezer and could easily whip up a batch of these rolls. And I've certainly got enough jam around here to go sweet if I like.
    I give you credit for learning how to make puff pastry and have thought about trying it myself. Filo dough, however, is way beyond my rolling capabilities. I can't imagine the skill involved to get the dough sheets that thin. I'd have to find a YaYa to teach me. :)

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    1. Thank you John. You know, I've seen how the filo dough was made when I was in Europe. And it was all done by hands: four women were pooling it apart until it was paper thin, and they had no holes in it! It was fascinating to watch how quick their hands moved under that dough! One day I want to go back to that village and learn from them... It's definitely worth the trip! :)

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  17. Great minds think alike, Marina! I made the same exact rolls, about a month ago and posted it, also posted the step-by-step photo directions! Now, I want to make them again, so delicious...they disappeared so fast!

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    1. Hi Elisabeth, I remember those rolls you've made. I just don't recall if it was savory or sweet. I am sure they were delicious! :)

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    2. Marina, mine were savory, as well! I made it with ricotta and herbs...so good; very similar to yours. Love these yummy treats...yours looks so perfect and delicious!

      Thank you for pinning my upside-down plum cake! xo

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    3. Oh, then I should give you a credit for the inspiration! :) Be safe there in Florida!

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  18. This sounds great, I love dill. As for making puff pastry I have to say I always buy it. I'd love to give it a go like you but I'd need an awfully long time!

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    1. That's why women didn't have to work before: they had a full time job at home making everything from scratch. :)

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  19. This looks like such a great appetizer or roll to accompany an entree!

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    1. Or even meal by itself (in our case it was with salad). :) Thanks for stopping by...

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  20. Making puff pastries from scratch is not difficult but a looooong and laborious process, Tried it and decided I get a great deal more enjoyment when it is made by someone else.

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    1. You are right, Norma. I prefer it done by someone else too. I made it though just to have it under my belt...:)

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  21. Marina, I always have store bought dough in my fridge. Puff pastries from scratch it's very difficult to make, I did it only ones-)) Your puffs looks yummy. I would love to try one, but I need 10 more pounds to loose-))

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    1. Wow, you are really determined! Good for you, my friend! I need to loose 10 more pounds too, but I run for that, 5 miles almost every day... :) Thanks for stopping by, I missed you here!

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  22. I'm with you on buying puff and filo pastry - I do as well and although I have intentions to try and make it one day I'm really not sure I can be bothered...you're good to try.

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    1. Thank you Liz. Making your own puff pastry is not hard, but rather long and labor intensive. And the only "shortcut" I found is to buy one...:)

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  23. they are a very good idea, i like also the shape! see you, vale

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  24. I could live on bread...but I would be a big puff, too! These sound incredible!

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    1. Lol, I don't think you would if you stay active. How is the weather down there? I am concerned about my blogger friends in Florida... Stay safe Diane!

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  25. Mmmm... Deliciousness! I love puff pastry! I probably could eat the savory for dinner and the sweet for dessert with nothing else! Have a great week my friend!

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  26. Rolls are really great. I know both sweet and savoury versions but my favourite and most popular withing my friends is the one with nutella filling. When it comes to shortcuts I have to be frank with you. I have never prepared puff pastry myself. I always use store-bought version. Sometimes I also cheat with pizza dough, because this is the fastest way to make pizza at home. And quite often, but not always I cheat with sweet pie crust (only because in Poland savoury pie crust in unavailable in stores). Sometimes I go further and cheat really seriously with tartelette shels (both sweet and savoury) but only when I need to prepare something superfast. Ok that was a serious piece of confession hihihi ;-)

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    1. Lol, Joanna! It is quite a confession! Thank you! We all look for shortcuts, it's normal. :)

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  27. These rolls must have been a life savior during an unexpected visit! They look delicious and I am sure both versios are equally tasty!

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    1. Thank you Katerina. I don't know about the sweet version, never made one, but it should be tasty... :)

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