Skip to content

Vegetarian, Classics and bistro fare

Leek and cheese hand pies with green salad

Leek and cheese hand pies are puff pastry pockets filled with soft leeks, cream, and gruyere, served warm with a green salad. For 4 people, this easy recipe takes 50 minutes and costs about €1.90 per serving. The key is letting the filling cool fully before you fill the pastry, so it puffs up properly in the oven.

Golden puff pastry hand pies filled with soft leeks and melted cheese, served with a salad, sound good?

Leek and cheese hand pies with green salad
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.90
Calories per person
550 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

Under the golden puff pastry, the leeks turn soft and creamy, lifted by melted gruyere and a touch of nutmeg. The texture plays on the contrast between the crisp pastry and the tender filling, with no sharp or spicy notes, making this a gentle, comforting dish.

This is a practical recipe for a weeknight in fall or winter, when leeks are in season and you want something warm and meatless. Kids usually love the hand pie shape and the melted cheese, and the green salad adds the freshness that balances the meal.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Puff pastry sheetsoften in the pantry 2
  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Wine vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Leeks 4
  • Green salad 1

Dairy

  • Butter 30 g
  • Heavy cream 10 cl
  • Grated gruyere 100 g
  • Egg 1

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Wash the leeks, thinly slice them, and cook them in butter over low heat until soft. 15 min

    Cover the pan so they cook gently in their own steam.

  2. Add the cream, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, let it thicken, then let it cool.

    Make sure no liquid is left at the bottom of the pan.

  3. Cut circles or squares from the puff pastry and spoon the leeks and gruyere onto the center of each.

    Leave a clean one centimeter border around the edge.

  4. Fold the pastry over, seal the edges with a fork, and brush with beaten egg.

    Cut a small slit on top to let steam escape.

  5. Bake at 190°C and serve warm with the salad tossed in olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. 20 min

    The hand pies are ready when golden and puffed up.

Our tips to get it right

  • Drain the leeks well after cooking if any liquid has formed, a filling that's too wet will make the puff pastry soggy.
  • Work with cold puff pastry straight from the fridge, it cuts more cleanly and rises better in the oven.
  • Prick the center of each hand pie lightly with a fork before baking so the pastry doesn't puff up unevenly.

The variations

  • Swap the gruyere for comté or emmental, the filling stays melty with a slightly milder flavor.
  • Add diced ham to the filling for a heartier version, without changing the baking time.
  • For a quicker version, use one large sheet of puff pastry folded in half instead of making individual hand pies.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with a simple vinaigrette
  • A light vegetable soup starter
  • A glass of apple juice or sparkling water

Storage

Cooked hand pies keep for 2 days in the fridge in a closed container. You can freeze them raw, unbaked, and bake them straight from the freezer with a few extra minutes of cooking time. Reheat cooked hand pies in the oven to keep them crisp, not in the microwave.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the filling ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the creamy leeks the day before and keep them in the fridge. Make sure they're fully cold before filling the pastry, so it rises properly in the oven.

Can you replace the heavy cream?

You can use whole liquid cream instead, but let it cook a bit longer so it thickens. The result will be slightly less rich but still works well.

How do you keep the puff pastry from getting soggy?

Always let the filling cool completely before filling the hand pies. Also drain the leeks if too much liquid formed while cooking.

Do kids usually like leek hand pies?

Yes, the individual shape and melted cheese make them popular with kids. You can cut back slightly on the nutmeg if serving young children.

How long does it take to make leek and cheese hand pies with a green salad?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in leek and cheese hand pies with a green salad?

About 550 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does leek and cheese hand pies with a green salad cost?

About €1.90 per serving, or €7.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

Family and bistro classics

See all

Recipes with cream

See all