Individual Lentil Puff Pastry Pocket Pies (2024)

If you're on the hunt for a meatless main to serve this holiday season (or for a special dinner), stop your scrolling! My Individual Puff Pastry Lentil Pies are the show-stopping savory centerpiece you've been looking for. Flaky pastry shells are stuffed with lentils, mirepoix, and fresh herbs and wrapped into a pretty package for a hearty and unforgettable cold weather entrée.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, it seems that November and December are always packed with parties, potlucks, dinners, and other festivities. I love all the celebrating, but finding tasty, crowd pleasing plant-based recipes for the holidays was something I had to learn along the way.

While my Pumpkin Vegetable Bakeand my easyVegan Pumpkin Pasta are oh so delicious, I also wanted to create a tasty, rib-sticking main course thatwould impress vegans & omnivores alike. Enter myVegan Puff Pastry Lentil Pies!

These flaky pockets of goodness are stuffed with a cozy and comforting mix of French-inspired lentils with carrots, celery, onions, and fresh herbs that'll have everyone going back for more.

All the flavors are right at home next to other holiday favorites like cranberries, sweet potatoes, gravy and green beans. Need more holiday inspo? Check out my Vegan Thanksgiving recipe roundup!

Gluten-free? You can also turn the lentil pie filling into vegan shepherd's pies if you're gluten free - simply top individual ramekins of the lentils with my cauliflower mashed potatoes instead of using puff pastry, then give them a quick trip under the broiler!

Best of all, these eye-catching savory hand pies take just 10 minutes to prep, meaning you can actually enjoy the holidays with your guests instead of being chained to your kitchen. That, my friends, is a holiday miracle!

What's In This Savory Puff Pastry Recipe?

This stunning vegan main is much simpler than you might think. Here's everything you'll need:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (optional) - This is my heart healthy fat of choice, but feel free to swap in what you generally use. Grapeseed or avocado oil are both good alternatives. If you don't use oil, feel free to use water to saute.
• Onion- Red, white or yellow onions (or even shallots!) will all work for this recipe. To save time and tears, opt for frozen chopped onions.
• Garlic- You know I love me some garlic powder, but we're pulling out the big guns for this vegan holiday centerpiece by using fresh cloves. If you get in a pickle, swap in ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder for each clove of fresh.
• Celery - Even if you're not a fan of raw celery, I highly suggest you try using it in this recipe. When cooked, it becomes vegetal and almost sweet, lending a big flavor boost to these savory hand pies.
• Carrot - I love grating my carrots for this recipe so their sweetness almost dissolves into the lentil mixture. Any color of carrot will work here, as will parsnips. Oh, and there's no need to peel them first - simply scrape the veg along the wide grates of your cheese grater.
• Fresh Rosemary - Fresh rosemary is a lovely, aromatic herb to keep on hand, and it does well as a potted plant. Remember to strip the leaves from the tough stems prior to use. If you don't have any fresh rosemary on hand, you can substitute a ½ teaspoon of dried rosemary instead.
• Fresh Thyme - If you're into plants, this is another charming addition to your windowsill. If you don't have any fresh thyme on hand, swap in ½ teaspoon of dried instead.
• Cooked Lentils - Depending on the type of lentil you choose, cook times will vary. Whole lentils usually cook in 15-20 minutes while split varieties may only take 6-8 minutes. You can also save time by using drained and rinsed canned lentils or vacu-sealed lentils from the refrigerator case of the store.
• Tomato Paste - You may need to thin the tomato paste out with some water for it to fully incorporate into the mix. If you have leftovers, you can freeze them into ice cubes for a quick hit of savory, umami flavor boosts whenever the need hits you!
• Puff Pastry - If you are using store-bought, be sure to opt for a brand that is vegan. You can also get fancy and try making this vegan puff pastry recipe from scratch.
• Flour - When you're working with pastry, having some flour for your rolling surface is a must to prevent sticking. If you're gluten free, make sure you choose a gluten free pastry brand/recipe and opt for a GF flour mix for dusting.

How to Make Lentil Hand Pies

You may have noticed I'm not a fancy cook; I mostly make dishes that are healthy without a lot of fuss. MySavory Lentil Puff Pastry Pockets may look difficult, but trust me: if I can do it, you can.

Step 1: Prep. Defrost puff pastry according to package directions. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2: Sauté Aromatics. Add olive oil, onion, garlic and celery to pan and cook for about 5 minutes. Add carrots, rosemary and thyme and cook for another few minutes.

Step 3: Add Lentils. Turn off the heat and add lentils and tomato paste. Let mixture cool a bit (about 10 minutes).

Step 4: Roll Puff Pastry. Sprinkle some flour on your work surface and roll out dough and cut to make 4 even squares about 9" each (2 from each sheet).

Step 5: Assemble. Place ¼ of mixture in each square. Fold up each side into the middle of the square and and pinch closed like little presents.

Step 6: Brush & Bake. With a brush or napkin "paint" olive oil on the outside of the puff pastry. Bake for 25 minutes or until pastry is browned. Serve hot and enjoy!

How to Serve

Now that you have your vegan holiday main course under control, all that's left to do is fill out the rest of the menu! Here are some of my favorite pairings for these lentil hand pies:

• When it comes to sides, I don't feel like you need much for this savory lentil pie. A simple green salad will do, but if you're into having a full-on holiday feast, try my Maple Dijon Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Garam Masala Roasted Squash.
• Some of my favorite holiday appetizers are my Vegan Port Wine Cheese Ball and my Christmas Pinwheels.
• Since it's the holidays, dessert is a must. Try my Vegan Apple Crumble or my Gingerbread Hot Chocolate.

Tips & Tricks

This savory puff pastry recipe is actually very easy to execute. That said, I've learned some things along the way:

1. When it comes to holiday cooking, work in stages! To save time, make the lentil filling up to three days in advance. Feel free to swap in canned or packaged cooked lentils to save a step.
2. Remember to defrost your puff pastry! I usually leave it overnight in the fridge. Once thawed and rolled, it's not hard to work with. I'll be honest, I had never worked with puff pastry before doing these, but I was surprised how easy it was.
3. Don't forget about your other dishes! If you're going to need your oven to cook other parts of your meal, make an oven schedule. This article has been indispensable for my holiday cooking.
4. Use frozen or bagged veggies for faster prep. If you hate chopping onions and grating carrots, there's no shame in reaching for pre-prepped items from the grocery store. I recommend searching both the frozen veggie aisle and the produce department to price compare.
5. Brush your pastry for a pretty appearance. In the world of pastry, egg washes are king when it comes to a shiny, glossy looking exterior on crispy items like croissants. To mimic that in a plant-friendly way, I use olive oil.

See Also

Best Ever Vegan Wellington - Karissa's Vegan KitchenHow to Make Crispy Tortilla StripsVegan Waldorf Salad Recipe - Vegan in teh FreezerNo Bake Coconut Snowballs (GF) - for the family

Are They Healthy?

I'm not about to shout the health virtues of puff pastry, BUT I am a firm believer that a healthy diet is all about moderation and enjoying food. Making these vegan puff pastry pockets for special occasions is well within those bounds.

Also, don't forget about all the other ingredients and the nutrients they bring to the table. For example:

• Lentils are nutrition powerhouses. They're a good source of fiber, protein, iron, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B-6.
• Carrots containbeta carotene (for eye health) as well fiber and vitamin C.
• Garlic and onions are part of the allium family, which has been linked to lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol.

Finally, don't forget that in contrast to other menu items that find their way onto the holiday dinner table, this plant based savory puff pastry hand pie recipe is a serious step up in terms of nutrition!

FAQs

Still Hungry?

Here are some more tasty recipes for cooler weather:

• Vegan Breakfast Tacos - I don't care what time of year or time of day it is - I always love tacos. Try this easy to make gluten free breakfast recipe to shake up your tastebuds in the midst of all the rich holiday foods.
• Vegan Carrot Cake Cupcakes - The thing about the holidays is that it's actually a whole season, not just a few meals. Put these easy and delicious cupcakes on your radar for potlucks, cookie exchanges or office parties.
• Teriyaki Tempeh Tacos - Remember how I said I love tacos? I wasn't lying. This Asian inspired fusion recipe is another weeknight winner.

If you make this recipe and LOVE IT, please give it 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!

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