Savory Star Tear and Share

Hello and welcome, friends! I am squeezing in an appetizer recipe today, just in time for New Year’s Eve. I got more than a few requests for a savory version of the Nutella and Cherry Tear and Share; so today, we have a quick and easy Savory Star Tear and Share – filled with sausage, smoked Gouda cheese and fig preserves. Make it as an appetizer, or serve it for two to six with a big salad for a light dinner. Let’s get to this Savory Star!

The method is basically the same as the Nutella Cherry Star. Let the puff pastry sheets defrost at room temperature for about 40 minutes to an hour, just until the pastry is defrosted, but still very cold.

The Prep

While the pastry is defrosting, Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Brown one pound of hot Italian sausage, transferring the browned sausage to a paper towel-lined plate. Set the sausage aside to cool. Grate 6 ounces of smoked gouda cheese on a box grater. For the fig preserves, just before we’re ready to add the fig preserves to the star, we will microwave the preserves for about 30 seconds to thin it out a bit. Beat one egg with a teaspoon of water for the egg wash.

We will use the removable bottom of a 10-inch tart pan as our template for cutting the circle. Flour your surface and roll out the pastry sheet until it’s just large enough to fit the 10-inch circle template. Use a pizza wheel to cut the dough around the template.

Place the cut pastry dough on a parchment-lined sheet tray and repeat the cutting with the second puff pastry sheet.

Assembling The Savory Star Tear and Share

Set the second circle of pastry aside and we will fill the round on the sheet tray, reserving the second pastry circle for the top. Spread a light layer of Gouda cheese on the puff pastry round. Then top with the cooked sausage. You will have about 1/3 cup of sausage left over (use it for another recipe!).

Now, warm up the fig preserves for about 30 seconds in the microwave until the preserves are a bit more loose and pourable.

Dot the top of the sausage with fig preserves. You can use as much as you like, I ended up with about 1.5 tablespoons-worth, dotted evenly around the circle.

Now top with more grated Gouda cheese.

Now, lay the second pastry round on top and lightly press it onto the toppings.

Just like the Nutella Cherry Star, use a shot glass or a small cookie cutter to score a circle in the center. Then use a sharp knife to make center cuts outward from the scored circle. Then make quarter cuts. Make two cuts in each quarter, creating three pieces; for a total of 12 star points. When you cut, try not to pull the knife through too hard, to avoid pulling the filling out with each cut.

Once all the cuts are made, grasp the outer edge of a star point and twist it inward toward its neighbor to the left. Then twist the neighbor to the left, toward the twisted star point to its right. Repeat with the rest of the star points.

After twisting all of the star points, brush the top and exposed pastry with egg wash.

Now, this is optional, but if you have toasted sesame seeds on hand, sprinkle the whole star with sesame seeds.

Bake the Savory Star Tear and Share for 20-26 minutes; until the pastry is puffed and deep golden brown. The center area of the twists are more tightly twisted than the outer edges, so once that area is looking puffed and golden, you should be good to go!

Let the Savory Star Tear and Share cool for about 5 minutes, and then use a large spatula to loosen it from the parchment and slide it onto a serving dish or plate.

Hot Italian sausage pairs really nicely with the smoky Gouda; the little bit of fig preserves adds a really nice sweetness along the way and is a rich contrast to the savory cheese and sausage. While the sesame seeds are optional, they bring a toasty nutty flavor and a little bit of crunch.

Thank you so much for joining me today! This is a great savory appetizer for a special occasion, or for a casual evening with a few friends and a bottle of wine. I try to keep a couple packages of puff pastry in the freezer so I can easily whip together a sweet or savory pastry and the Savory Star Tear and Share is a crowd-pleasing option!

Djalali cooks is taking Thursday off, so I will see you again Friday, with our last Top 10 list of 2021 – Pizza and a Movie top 10! Take care and be well, xo Kelly

Print Recipe

Savory Star Tear and Share

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Appetizer, side dish – American

By Kelly Djalali – Serves: 4-6

Prep Time: 25 Minutes – Cooking Time: 20-26 Minutes – Total Time: ~50 Minutes

A savory version of the star-shaped tear and share puff pastry, this version has spicy sausage, smoked Gouda cheese and fig preserves.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Hot Italian Sausage, browned, drained and cooled
• 6 oz. Smoked Gouda Cheese, grated
• 2 Sheets Prepared Puff Pastry
• 1.5 tbsp. Fig Preserves
• 1 Egg, beaten with 1 tsp. water
• Toasted Sesame Seeds, optional

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2

We will use the removable bottom of a 10-inch tart pan as our template for cutting the circle. Flour your surface and roll out the pastry sheet until it's just large enough to fit the 10-inch circle template. Use a pizza wheel to cut the dough around the template.

3

Place the cut pastry dough on a parchment-lined sheet tray and repeat the cutting with the second puff pastry sheet.

4

Set the second circle of pastry aside and we will fill the round on the sheet tray, reserving the second pastry circle for the top.

5

Spread a light layer of Gouda cheese on the puff pastry round.

6

Then top with the cooked sausage. You will have about 1/3 cup of sausage left over (use it for another recipe!).

7

Now, warm up the fig preserves for about 30 seconds in the microwave until the preserves are a bit more loose and pourable.

8

Dot the top of the sausage with fig preserves.

9

Top with more grated Gouda cheese.

10

Now, lay the second pastry round on top and lightly press it onto the toppings.

11

Use a shot glass or a small cookie cutter to score a circle in the center. Use a sharp knife to make center cuts outward from the scored circle. Then make quarter cuts. Make 2 cuts in each quarter, creating three pieces; for a total of 12 star points. When you cut, try not to pull the knife through too hard, to avoid pulling the filling out with each cut.

12

Once all the cuts are made, grasp the outer edge of a star point and twist it inward toward its neighbor to the left. Then twist the neighbor to the left, toward the twisted star point to its right. Repeat with the rest of the star points.

13

After twisting all of the star points, brush the top and exposed pastry with egg wash.

14

Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

15

Bake for 20-26 minutes; until the pastry is puffed and deep golden brown. The center area of the twists are more tightly twisted than the outer edges, so once that area is looking puffed and golden, you should be good to go!

16

Let the Savory Star Tear and Share cool for about 5 minutes, and then use a large spatula to loosen it from the parchments and slide it onto a serving dish or plate.