Classic puff pastry squares are filled with delicious and savory ground beef and roasted eggplant mixture and topped with a beautiful cheesy filling that will delight your tastebuds. These look and taste quite fancy, but are so simple and easy to prepare. A perfect fall or holiday go-to recipe!
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 30-45 minutes
Yields: 12 Puff Muffins
Ingredients:
- 1 T. olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 5 oz. minced beef
- Sea salt, to taste
- 1 medium eggplant, roasted
- 1 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package instructions
- 1 c. mozzarella, shredded
- 1 egg yolk
Béchamel Sauce:
- 2 T. flour
- 1 T. butter
- 1 c. milk
- 1/4 t. nutmeg, freshly ground preferred
- Sea salt, to taste
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin pan. Set aside.
- Add olive oil to a small skillet and heat over medium-high heat.
- Add onion and sauté 3-4 minutes.
- Add beef and cook until cooked through and browned. Season to taste with salt. Set aside.
- Wrap eggplant with foil and heat over a medium flame on a gas stove turning every 2-3 minutes with tongs until cooked through, approximately 12 minutes. Alternatively, poke holes with a fork, and roast at 400°F in the oven turning once, for 15-20 minutes depending on size.
- Let eggplant cool and then peel and chop. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, add flour and butter. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slowly whisk in milk and mix well.
- Cook stirring constantly for 5-7 minutes or until the béchamel sauce thickens. Add nutmeg and season to taste with salt.
- Add chopped eggplant and combine. Set aside.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry dough with a rolling pin. Cut into 5” x 5” squares.
- Place dough squares into the prepared muffin pan.
- Evenly divide the beef mixture into 12 cups. Top with béchamel sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Beat the egg yolk with a fork and using a pastry brush, lightly brush the pastry dough.
- Bake at 400°F for approximately 10 minutes or until the mozzarella begins to melt and the puff pastry has turned golden brown.
- Enjoy!