Ham + Leek Turnovers

T-minus-two days until one of my favorite days of the year, and that means it’s time to get serious about what we’re cooking for Thanksgiving! And if you’re still scrambling for an appetizer to make for your own Turkey Day, look no further. These Ham + Leek Turnovers are crowd pleasers that feature the best flavors of the fall! Best of all, they can be made ahead of time.

You start out by sautéing leeks in butter until soft, and then swirl in a touch of crème fraîche. In a separate bowl, mix chopped spinach, diced ham, Parmesan, and Gruyère cheese. Finally, add the leek mixture to the spinach mixture and combine.

For the crust, simply roll out three sheets of puff pastry and cut each sheet into nine squares of equal size. (The recipe I link to makes big turnovers; just make yours smaller for appetizers!) Drop heaping tablespoons of the leek mixture in the center of the squares, brush the edges with egg wash, and then fold into triangles. To finish, crimp the edges with the tines of a fork and brush each turnover with the egg wash. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and pop them in the oven!* 

In my parents’ house, Thanksgiving morning is a race to get everything done before forty family members arrive for dinner. (Actually, it’s a marathon that my parents begin running the weekend prior with grocery shopping, moving furniture, and more. But still, even with all that prep, Thanksgiving morning is a mad dash!) So to ease some of the morning rush, I made a batch of these turnovers last week and popped them into the freezer instead of baking them. That way, come Thanksgiving, they can go right into the oven.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Hope you’re celebrating with the people you love. 

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*Note: if you’re prepping these ahead of time, put them in the refrigerator or freezer without the egg wash coating on top. When you’re ready to bake, glaze with the egg wash, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then you’re ready to go!