Masala Vegetable Aumônières with Pineapple and Goji Berry Salad

Aumônières are crispy little pouches typically made from puff pastry or brick leaves. They can be filled with a variety of ingredients such as cheese, vegetables, or even fruits and creams for desserts. The term «aumônière» comes from the bags carried by nobles in medieval France, which is how this culinary term originated! I prepared this recipe for Valentine’s Day to share with the blog Cocinamos Sin Crueldad for the event CSC#2.

Ingredients

• 4 sheets of brick pastry
• 2 potatoes
• 50 grams of frozen peas
• 50 grams of tofu
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 2 slices of fresh pineapple
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 cloves, ground
• A pinch of ginger
• Salt and pepper to taste
• About 20-30 goji berries

Instructions

1. Prepare the Filling: Finely chop the onion and garlic, then sauté them in a pan with a little olive oil. Add the spices and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Dice the potatoes and carrot into very small cubes and add them to the pan along with the peas. Cut the tofu into small cubes and add it as well. Sauté the vegetables for about 10 minutes, then add half a slice of pineapple, finely chopped. Cook for 5 more minutes and turn off the heat. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
2. Assemble the Aumônières: Place a few spoonfuls of the vegetable mixture in the center of a sheet of brick pastry. Fold the sides over and secure them with a toothpick. Repeat this with each sheet.
3. Bake: Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F) and bake the pouches for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
4. Prepare the Pineapple Salad: While the aumônières are baking, chop the remaining pineapple into small pieces and mix in some cumin seeds and goji berries.
5. Serve: Arrange the aumônières on a plate, carefully remove the toothpicks, and serve with the fruit salad and a yogurt sauce (raita).

Tip

You can find brick pastry sheets in specialty (Oriental) stores or large supermarkets. If you can’t find them, you can make them at home with a little patience using this recipe from Nora (the key is to have a perfectly non-stick pan and a wide brush).

Veggie+

Spices, in addition to their flavor, offer numerous benefits: they can be digestive, detoxifying, antiseptic, and some are even aphrodisiac (ginger, clove, and cumin were historically used to create love potions). Therefore, don’t hesitate to use them on Valentine’s Day! Pineapple is also known for its aphrodisiac properties. Goji berries have a similar reputation, although they are more commonly used for their energizing and antioxidant benefits. Learn more about goji berries.