These traditional mince pies have green spinach pastry! You can’t taste the spinach, but it makes them a fantastic festive colour!
Mince pies are sinful little bundles of Christmas, but for this recipe I’ve made them a bit healthier and a lot greener with spinach pastry. Trust me on this one, you can’t taste the spinach. But it makes a vibrant and unusual take on the traditional treat. I made these with my pumpkin mincemeat to add even more veg to these mince pies and they taste fantastic. These unusual tarts would make a lovely homemade foodie gift.
Mince Pies with Spinach Pastry
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Kate @ Veggie Desserts
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Serves: 24
Ingredients
- 100g fresh raw spinach
- 240g (2 cups) plain flour
- 120g ( ½ cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 40g (1/3 cup) powdered icing sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 250g ( ¾ cup) mincemeat
Instructions
- In a food processor, whiz the spinach until fine. Set aside. In the food processor (no need to clean out too thoroughly after the spinach), pulse the flour and butter together until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the sugar, egg yolk and spinach and pulse gently until it forms a ball. You may need to add a tablespoon or so of cold water. You don’t want it too wet.
- Press the dough into a flat disc shape, to aid rolling later, cover in clingfilm and refrigerate for at least half an hour.
- Preheat oven to 190C/375F. Lightly grease a bun or muffin tray. .
- Take half of the dough from the fridge and roll it out thinly. Cut circles slightly larger than the holes in the tray using a cookie cutter or the edge of a glass. Cut out shapes, such as stars, to top the mince pies. Gently press the circles into the tray, fill ¾ full with the mincemeat and top with the star shaped pastry.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until they just begin to brown. Remove from the tray and cool on a wire rack. When the tray is cool, repeat with the remaining pastry.
Platter Talk says
Oh! another mince meat pie for an app! I love the ingredients and the star on top.
Choclette says
Fantastic colour on those mincepies. I am now keen to make spinach pastry – lovely idea. Hope you’ve been enjoying the festivities and all the best for 2014.
Kate Veggie Desserts says
You won’t regret the spinach pastry – looks great and you can’t taste it! All the best to you for 2014 as well. x
bakingaddict says
What a clever idea and the green pastry makes it look festive too! Thanks for entering AlphaBakes.
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thanks for running it! It certainly is a festive colour 🙂
Julie's Family Kitchen says
How unusual, I would never have thought of using spinach. They look absolutely delicious and very festive too.
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thanks Julie!
Vanesther - Bangers & Mash says
Never thought of using spinach in pastry before, although I have in smoothies and you can’t taste it in those either. It has the same effect of turning them a beautiful shade of green. These look absolutely gorgeous – I will definitely have to give them a go this Christmas. And a great entry for December’s Spice Trail challenge. Thanks so much for sharing!
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thanks for running the challenge, Vanesther. I love my green smoothies in the morning, too. Let me know how they turn out for you. I’ve used spinach pastry before in my Nectarine and Frangipane Galette – it’s so easy to add a few extra nutrients and a gorgeous colour!
Vanesther - Bangers & Mash says
You should definitely get involved in the Family Foodies challenge I’ll be hosting in January. The theme is Hidden Goodies, so it should be right up your street!
Kate Veggie Desserts says
I’ll definitely be up for that!
Lou says
Dear Katie,
I am speechless!
No Christmas is a proper one without mincepies, and yours are truly inspiring.
Will I be able to convince my mum?
I send you a big warm hug.
Lou
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Thanks Lou, go on, get some unexpected spinach into your mum!
x
Stuart Vettese says
Thank you for entering Treat Petite! I love pasta verde, so I’m thinking I would love the spinach pastry on these babies!
Kate Veggie Desserts says
Go on, Stuart, try some spinach pastry. So easy and so GREEN!