Pork Puff Pastry Pockets

These Pork Puff Pastry Pockets feature ground pork and onion plus gravy and cheese, all wrapped in flaky pastry. They're a delicious way to reimagine leftovers.

Food waste is something that I struggle with as a person who likes to experiment with lots of different recipes. I know I need to get much better at managing what's in my fridge and finding creative ways to use it up before it has to be thrown out. As an witch, balancing a modern lifestyle while holding the Earth sacred is a constant struggle for me.

So in future, I'm going to challenge myself to make sure I use up what I have before I buy more. I want to get more creative with reimagining leftover components like egg whites, bread, cheeses, and produce. I want to be less in the bin and more in my belly. It's a win win really, bringing me and my family pleasure and reducing the emissions created by wasted food.

What makes Pork Puff Pastry Pockets so awesome?

These Pork Puff Pastry Pockets were born when I made Mini Pork Pies and had leftover cooked ground pork. I didn't want the delicious meat to go to waste, so I grabbed some puff pastry, piled some meat cheese and gravy inside, sealed it up, and baked until golden brown and delicious. And it truly was delicious. Now I make this dish with or without leftover pork. It's so deeply savoury and satisfying.

A pound of ground pork will make four big pockets. You could, of course, make a smaller version to feed more people. You could also add other leftovers like root veggies. The flaky pastry is what makes this awesome, so since we're only feeding two people, I cook up all the pork and make two pockets one night and another two pockets the next. Honestly, though, they're pretty big, so I end up eating the second half for lunch. You could reheat them, but your pastry is never going to be as flaky and crisp again.

Magical Properties of Pork

Whether it's wild boar or domesticated pigs, pork has been part of human civilization for centuries. You see references to boar and pigs all over folklore from The Bible to Norse mythology and beyond. Pigs are sacred to several goddesses including Hecate and Freya. Call on pork in your kitchen spells to bring in fertility, good luck, prosperity, and longevity. Corresponded to Jupiter and the element of fire, you can also use this ingredient for expansion and motivation.

For more on the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this dish. the full details are in the recipe card below.

• Olive oil - or your favorite cooking oil
• Onion - white or brown onion, diced
• Ground pork - aka pork mince
• Salt and pepper
• Gravy - Use leftovers or storebought. We like gravy granules
• Cheddar cheese - I like to go for something strongly flavored here
• Puff pastry - 2 sheets should do ya
• Egg - for a shiny egg wash

Tips for making Pork Puff Pastry Pockets

Start by sauteeing your onion until soft, then brown your seasoned pork, breaking it up as it cooks, until it's fully cooked. You can do this part ahead of time and store the cooked meat in the fridge. When you're ready to bake your puff pastry pockets, just make sure your oven is fully preheated before baking.

When you're ready to bake your pockets, roll out your puff pastry and cut each sheet in half. There may be some variation depending on how your pre-rolled puff pastry is packaged. You could also make a larger quantity of smaller pockets. You can really get creative here with size and shape. Sometimes I do triangles, sometimes rectangles. Whatever works for you.

Just fill one half of each rectangle of puff pastry with your pork, then pour over a bit of gravy and sprinkle on some cheese. Completely cover and use a fork to seal the edges, keeping all your filling inside. Brush each pocket with beaten egg, then carve some vents. You could even carve in a sigil if you like.

Then bake until fully puffed and golden brown. Make sure you don't have soggy bottoms. Give them a few minutes to cool before digging in.

Whether you're working with leftovers or starting from scratch, these Pork Puff Pastry Pockets are absolutely awesome. Dig in!

Looking for more awesome pork recipes? Try this slow-cooked Pork & Apple Hot Pot or a juicy BBQ Pork Burger.

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