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Blue-Cheese, Caramelized Onion and Pear Puffs
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Blue Cheese, Caramelized Onion and Pear Puffs

Servings 12 bites
Author Brandon Matzek

Ingredients

  • 1 package (2 sheets frozen puff pastry)
  • 1 medium red onion, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons red Bordeaux wine
  • 7 ounces Cambozola*
  • 4 tablespoons heavy cream, divided (3 for the filling, 1 for the egg wash)
  • 1 ripe pear (core removed and diced)
  • 1 heaping tablespoon chopped parsley, plus more for sprinkling
  • 1 lighly beaten egg + 1 egg yolk

Serve with more red Bordeaux wine. I'm drinking a Chateau Timberlay Merlot blend here.

    Instructions

    • Thaw puff pastry according to package instructions.
    • Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, drop in sliced onions, and cook, stirring occasionally, until dark brown and somewhat soft (about 5 minutes). Reduce heat to medium, and add the butter and a big pinch of kosher salt, stirring to coat the onions. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are soft and sweet (5 to 10 minutes more). Add 3 tablespoons of wine, and using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Continue to cook for just 1 minute more until most of the liquid has evaporated. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper, then transfer onions to a cutting board to cool.
    • Once cool, chop up caramelized onions, then add to a medium bowl along with the Cambozola, 3 tablespoons heavy cream, diced pear and chopped parsley. Using a fork, mash together the ingredients until combined. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper, then stir in the beaten egg.
    • Preheat an oven to 400°F, and place an oven rack in the middle position. Lightly grease a 12 cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
    • Roll out puff pastry into a 12-inch square. Cut pastry into 9 even squares, then place a square in each muffin cup, pressing into the bottom and up the sides and leaving the corners pointing up. Repeat with remaining sheet of puff pastry, but only cut 3 additional squares. Divide filling between the cups. Fold pastry over filling, pressing corners together to meet in center. Beat egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of heavy cream together, then brush the top of each pastry evenly with the egg wash. Bake until pastry is golden brown and puffed (about 25 minutes).
    • Transfer the muffin tin to a cooling rack, and let the puffs cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Turn out the puffs onto the cooling rack, and let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy with a glass of red Bordeaux wine!

    Notes

    *Cambozola is a mix of brie and blue cheese that pairs beautifully with red Bordeaux wine. I wouldn't recommend using a stronger blue cheese, because the flavor can clash with the bold red.