Broccoli and Ricotta Bundles

17/11/2023

The broccoli and ricotta bundles are a delicious and relatively simple dish to prepare. Here is the recipe and procedure.

Ingredients

1 package of rectangular puff pastry
300 grams of broccoli
250 grams of ricotta
1 clove of garlic
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Extra virgin olive oil
1 egg yolk (for brushing the pastry)

Preparation

First of all, clean the broccoli by removing the outer leaves and cutting away the more fibrous stem. Divide the broccoli tops into small florets.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the broccoli for about 3-5 minutes, until they become tender but still firm. Drain them and quickly run them under cold water to stop the cooking process and maintain their bright color.
In a non-stick pan, lightly fry a clove of garlic (which you will then remove) with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add the broccoli, adjust for salt and pepper, and let them flavor for a few minutes.
Take the ricotta and squash it with a fork in a bowl until it becomes creamy. Add the sautéed broccoli and mix well to combine.
Roll out the puff pastry and cut it into squares of about 10 cm on each side. In the center of each square, place a spoonful of the broccoli and ricotta filling.
Close the bundles by bringing the opposite corners of the pastry to the center and pinching them lightly to seal them, but you can close them as you prefer creating semicircles or triangles. The important thing is that the filling is well sealed inside the bundle.
Beat the egg yolk and brush the surface of the bundles to give them a nice golden color during cooking.
Bake the bundles in a preheated oven at 200 °C for about 20-25 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden and crispy.

Curiosity

The bundles are a versatile preparation and perfect for an appetizer or a light and tasty second course. With the same base, you could also vary the filling, maybe adding some diced speck for a smoky touch, or enriching the ricotta with chopped aromatic herbs such as parsley or basil. Remember to customize the dish according to your tastes!