Southern Brunch Pastry Puff

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 30 min. + standing

Makes

8 servings

Updated: Sep. 30, 2022
My family just about jumps out of bed when the smell of eggs, sausage and buttery pastry hits their noses. This recipe is morning magic. —Misty M. Leddick, Chester, South Carolina
Southern Brunch Pastry Puff Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon water, divided
  • 1/2 cup quick-cooking grits
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup butter, cubed
  • 2 tablespoons prepared pesto
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper, divided
  • 1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
  • 7 large eggs, divided use
  • 1 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Slowly stir in grits. Reduce the heat to medium-low; cook, covered, 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in the cheese, butter, pesto, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper until blended.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage and red pepper over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink and red pepper is tender, 4-6 minutes, breaking up sausage into crumbles; drain.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk 6 of the eggs and the remaining salt and pepper until blended. Return sausage to skillet. Pour in the egg mixture; cook and stir until the eggs are thickened and no liquid egg remains.
  4. Unfold each of the puff pastry sheets onto a 12x10-in. sheet of parchment. Spread grits up to 1/2 in. from the edges. Spoon the sausage mixture over half of the grits on each pastry. Fold pastries over the sausage mixture to enclose; press the edges with a fork to seal. Transfer to a baking sheet.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk remaining egg and water; brush over pastries. If desired, top with additional ground pepper. Bake until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut each pastry into 4 pieces.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 587 calories, 39g fat (14g saturated fat), 208mg cholesterol, 766mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 5g fiber), 18g protein.