Braided Puff Pastry Strudel with Caramelized Mushrooms and Spinach
 
Prep time
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A delicious puff pastry strudel, perfect to serve as an appetizer or a light dinner with a seasonal salad.
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Recipe type: Appetizer
Serves: 2 strudels
Ingredients
  • 8 oz. Cremini mushrooms, finely chopped into ½” pieces
  • 2 TBSP. butter
  • 2 lrg. shallots, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 TBSP. fresh thyme
  • ½ tsp. sea salt
  • ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
  • 12 oz. fresh spinach (or Swiss chard)
  • 8 oz. mild or spicy Italian sausage (optional)
  • 1 TBSP. fresh sage, minced (about 6 leaves)
  • 8 oz. Gruyère cheese, grated
  • 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed (16 oz)
  • Egg wash
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp. water
Instructions
  1. Defrost the puff pastry overnight and keep cold in the refrigerator.
  2. In a heavy skillet “dry sauté” the mushrooms (no oil, high heat), until you hear a popping sound in the pan. Lower the heat to medium and add the butter. Stir in the shallots and cook for about three minutes. Add the garlic and the thyme, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for a few more minutes, or, until the shallots are tender and caramelized.
  3. Chop the spinach and fold it into the above vegetable mixture. Cook briefly until it is wilted and reduced in volume. Empty the contents of the skillet into a medium bowl and set aside.
  4. Remove the casing from the sausages, crumble them, and place the loose sausage meat in the same skillet used for the vegetables (no need to add oil to the skillet, as the sausage will render some amount of fat while cooking). Cook the meat over medium heat until it is lightly browned and cooked through, stirring often. Add the fresh sage and cook for another minute.
  5. Remove from the heat and add the vegetable mixture back into the skillet. Fold half of the cheese in and set aside.
  6. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
  7. Lay out the first defrosted puff pastry sheet on a piece of parchment paper, lightly dusted with flour. Return the second roll of puff pastry to the refrigerator to keep cold. Unfold the puff pastry and, with a rolling pin dusted with flour, gently even it out to a ¼” thickness. You should have a square about 11” x 11”. Trim off the top corners and then cut notches in the bottom (this will make the braid look neat). Carefully lift the parchment paper and place it on a baking sheet. Cut 1”-thick strips diagonally down both sides of the pastry leaving the center uncut. There should be an equal number of strips on both sides.
  8. Add half of the filling down the center of the puff pastry and sprinkle the half of the remaining shredded cheese on top of the filling. Fold the top and bottom flaps over the filling. Form the braid by crossing the strips diagonally over the filling, alternating from side to side as you go. When you get to the end, trim off any extra strips and tuck under any overhanging dough.
  9. Place the strudel in the refrigerator to keep the puff pastry cold. Repeat each of the above steps with the second piece of puff pastry and the remaining filling and cheese. Remove the baking sheet with the first strudel from the refrigerator. Place the second braid on the baking sheet, 2” apart from the first.
  10. Lightly brush the top only (not the sides) of the strudels with some egg wash. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and crispy, about 25 minutes. With a large spatula, remove the strudels to a rack and let them cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Adding sausage is optional. If you do not want to use meat, just double the amount of mushrooms and spinach.
Recipe by Marilena's Kitchen at https://marilenaskitchen.com/braided-puff-pastry-strudel-with-caramelized-mushrooms-and-spinach/