Vegan Spinach Onion Hand Pies with Flaky Crust
These vegan spinach onion hand pies are a delightful homage to the past, featuring a flaky crust and a savory filling. Perfect for a cozy meal or a snack on the go, they are packed with flavor and nostalgia.
- Author: Ruby
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Vegan
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup coconut oil or vegan butter, solid (not melted)
- 6–8 tablespoons ice water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups fresh spinach, chopped (or 2 cups frozen spinach, thawed and drained)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast (optional for a cheesy flavor)
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill or parsley, chopped (optional for added flavor)
- Non-dairy milk (for brushing the crust)
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and sugar. Stir well and then add the solid coconut oil or vegan butter in pieces. Process with a fork or your hands until crumbly, about 5 minutes.
- Slowly add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, stirring with a fork until the dough comes together. Be careful not to use too much water; the dough should be moist but not sticky, which takes about 5 minutes.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes until golden brown.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add the chopped fresh spinach (or drained frozen spinach) and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, lemon juice, and optional nutritional yeast and fresh herbs. Mix well and remove from heat. Let the mixture cool.
- Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface and cut into equal circles, about 10 cm in diameter.
- Place one tablespoon of filling in the center of each dough circle. Brush the edges with a little plant-based milk, then fold the dough circles over and press the edges with a fork to seal.
- Place the filled hand pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the tops with more plant-based milk.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the crust is golden brown and flaky. Be careful not to let them get too dark.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 hand pie
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: Avoid overworking the dough to keep the crust flaky. Using cold ingredients, especially the plant-based butter, helps improve the flakiness. You can also experiment with different fillings and spices to suit your taste.