I love making pastry cup appetizers. They always please a crowd and are very easy to pull together. Today I’m making Fig & Feta Pastry Cups, they are two of the most popular ingredients in Greek cuisine and there’s a good reason for it. Figs are sweet and tender, feta is salty and soft. When put together they play off each other perfectly. These cups are the ideal salty and sweet appetizer everyone loves to pop in their mouths while they sip a little wine before dinner.
Making these cups is very simple. Start with cold dough and work quickly. If you don’t, the dough will get too warm and start sticking to everything, which is a real pain. Have the rest of your ingredients ready and make sure they are high quality. The fig should be ripe and sweet, the feta should come from a block that’s been sitting in a brine. Assemble everything as instructed, making sure the spray the muffin tin so they are easy to extract once they are baked.
Pop the assembled cups in the oven, then get a serving platter ready. I think these cups are best served when they are warm because the cheese is nice and melted and everything melds beautifully in your mouth. I also like to serve them with a white wine or bubbly because the acidic wine pairs so nicely with the sweet fig flavors. I always include these on a grazing table or a passed appetizer platter. My guests also seem to pop a few in their mouths while they chat before settling in for a main meal. I’ve even served them alongside a large salad to round it out as a light meal, instead of a slice of bread.
You’ll love these easy pastry cups, they’re perfect year-round and make everyone happy. Enjoy!
Feta and Fig Pastry Cups
These mini pastries are the perfect combination of sweet and savory, with creamy feta cheese balancing the jammy sweetness of figs. They're easy to make and look impressive, making them ideal for appetizers, brunches, or even light lunches.
Ingredients:
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
½ jar fig jam
Honey, I used Thyme Honey (776) * maybe link the product
Fresh Thyme – garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Unfold the puff pastry sheet and gently roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a 12x10 inch rectangle. Cut out 12 squares of equal size using a sharp knife or cookie cutter.
Gently press each square into a mini muffin cup or mini tart pan, forming little cups. Prick the bottoms of the pastry cups with a fork to prevent them from puffing up too much.
Divide the crumbled feta cheese evenly among the pastry cups. Top each cup with a fig slice or two.
Drizzle a small amount of fig jam over the figs in each cup. You can use a spoon or a piping bag for a more precise drizzle.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the edges are slightly puffed.
Let the pastry cups cool for a few minutes before serving. Drizzle with additional honey, if desired, and garnish with fresh thyme leaves for an extra touch of elegance.
Nikki Glekas is the owner of Nikki Glekas Events, a full-service catering and events company located in Stamford, CT.. To discuss further please contact team@nikkiglekascollective.com or call 203.658.8659.