Pull-apart Christmas Tree with Spinach and Artichoke Filling
A vegan pull-apart Christmas tree made with ready-rolled puff pastry and a creamy spinach and artichoke filling – an easy, festive sharing starter.
Equipment
Disclaimer: the equipment list above includes affiliate links to products I use and like.
Ingredients
- 100 g unsalted cashews
- 200 g frozen spinach
- olive oil
- 50 g shallots
- 4 garlic cloves
- 75 g grilled artichokes in oil
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp Italian herb seasoning
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 4 Tbsp water
- 2 x 320g puff pastry sheets (I used Jus-Rol)
- chilli oil
- chilli flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Boil the kettle. Put the cashews in a bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak for 20 minutes.100 g unsalted cashews
- Put the frozen spinach in a second bowl, cover with boiling water and leave for 10 minutes.200 g frozen spinach
- Heat a little olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the finely chopped shallots and fry gently until soft.olive oil, 50 g shallots
- Drain the spinach, squeezing out as much water as possible. Add it to the pan with the grated garlic and fry gently for 3–4 minutes. Stir in the finely chopped artichokes, nutritional yeast, Italian herbs and salt. Set aside.4 garlic cloves, 75 g grilled artichokes in oil, 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 tsp salt, 1 Tbsp Italian herb seasoning
- Drain the cashews and blend with the lemon juice and water until completely smooth. Stir the cashew cream into the spinach mixture, check the seasoning and leave to cool slightly.1 Tbsp lemon juice, 4 Tbsp water
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Unroll one puff pastry sheet onto a lined baking tray. Spread the filling over it, leaving a 1cm border, then lay the second sheet on top and press gently.2 x 320g puff pastry sheets (I used Jus-Rol)
- With a very sharp knife, cut out a large Christmas tree shape. Use the offcuts to cut out one large star and six small stars.
- Leaving a 2–3cm trunk down the middle, cut branches about 2.5cm thick on each side. Twist each branch two or three times.
- Place the large star on top of the tree and line the small stars down the middle. Brush everything with chilli oil.chilli oil
- Bake for around 20 minutes, until puffed and golden.
- Sprinkle with chilli flakes, if using, and serve warm.chilli flakes (optional)
Notes
Nut-free: replace the cashew cream with 4–5 tbsp dairy-free cream cheese.
Make ahead: assemble, cover and chill overnight, then bake straight from the fridge.
Freeze: freeze unbaked for up to 1 month and bake from frozen, adding 5–10 minutes.
Storage: keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat in the oven, not the microwave.
Pastry: if needed, check that your puff pastry is vegan.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 438kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 9gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gSodium: 504mgPotassium: 273mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 3026IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 3mg