Breakfast Turnovers with Ham, Egg and Cheese

Breakfast Turnovers with Ham, Egg, and Cheese

If ever there was a breakfast worthy of the moniker breakfast, it’s these turnovers. Delicious, flaky puff pastry surrounds scrambled eggs, ham, cheese, and onions, creating a hand-held breakfast that satisfies even the heartiest eaters. Every bite is filled with melty goodness, with eggs and ham to power you through the day, and that pastry outside? Pure delicious perfection. You won’t find a better breakfast anywhere. And the best part is that you can make them ahead of time and reheat them for quick breakfasts or pack them in lunch boxes or bags. They even make great after-school snacks for those teenagers who always seem to be hungry.

What is a Turnover

A turnover is a type of pastry made by placing a filling on a piece of dough, then folding the dough over, sealing it, and baking it. It’s basically a small, pie. Turnovers can be sweet or savory, just like pies and made with traditional pie dough or puff pastry, as in the case of these breakfast turnovers.

Ingredients You Need to Make Puff Pastry Breakfast Turnovers

There are several ingredients to this recipe, but they’re all basic breakfast fair. Chances are you have almost all of these ingredients in your kitchen already. It’s easy to find them in the store, as well, so if you have to shop for anything it’s going to be very easy to find.

• Puff pastry sheets
• Diced ham
• Onions
• Large eggs
• Black pepper
• Slap ya mama seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Red pepper flakes
• Sharp cheddar cheese
• Olive oil
• Water
• Egg for egg wash

How to Make Breakfast Turnovers

Making these breakfast turnovers doesn’t take a lot of effort. You’ll basically be doing a little chopping, a little scrambling, and then baking the pastry after you’ve filled it. It’s a straightforward process that doesn’t take a lot of time at all.

Step 1: Prepare the filling.

Add the ham and onions to a large frying pan and cook in oil over medium heat until the onions are tender. Add whisked eggs to the pan and scramble over medium heat until they’re almost done. When the eggs are almost done, add the shredded cheese and continue cooking.

Step 2: Assemble the Turnovers

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry dough to seal the seams. Then, cut each pastry into four equal squares. a couple of tablespoons of egg mixture to the center of each pastry. Fold the pastry from corner to corner to create a triangle, then crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Brush the turnovers with egg wash.

Step 3: Bake

Place the turnovers in the preheated oven and back until they’re golden brown.

Step 4: Cool, Slice, and Serve

Remove the turnovers from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool a bit. Serve sliced or whole with sour cream, salsa, sliced avocado, and green onions.

Helpful Tips for Making Breakfast Turnovers

This is a fairly simple recipe because it uses storebought puff pastry dough. That means that the only real work involved is the chopping of your ingredients and a little stove work. It’s simple enough that even beginner cooks can make it. That being said, even easy things can be made easier. I have some tips here that will help you make the best turnovers possible and make them easily.

Breakfast Turnovers Variations

There are a few things you can do to change up this recipe. The great thing about the versatility of these turnovers is that you can keep them from getting stale by making one change or changing up the entire thing. It’s all up to you!

Different Meat

This recipe uses ham, but you can use any kind of meat you like. Of course, classic options include sausage or bacon, but you can use other meat options, as well. Some of my favorites are:

• Ham
• Sausage
• Bacon
• Ground beef
• Leftover steak or roast
• Spam

Vegetables

Try adding vegetables to your turnover for even more flavor. Some great, classic breakfast veggies include:

• Bell peppers
• Jalapenos
• Mushrooms
• Potatoes

Different Cheese

This recipe calls for sharp cheddar cheese, but you can use any cheese that you enjoy. It’s really up to you. It’s my belief that all cheese is delicious! That being said, some of the cheese that I find work best with this recipe include:

• Any cheddar
• Colby
• Monterey Jack
• Colby Jack
• Pepper Jack
• Mozzarella

Dice the Ham and Onions Small

When dicing your ingredients, make them small. This turnover is basically supreme scrambled eggs in a puff pastry. Dice everything small so it can all incorporate into your scrambled eggs uniformly and you get a burst of flavors in every single bite.

Always Use Parchment and Non-Stick Spray

You might think that using parchment paper and non-stick spray is overkill, but it’s not. These turnovers will stick to the parchment paper if you don’t use the non-stick spray, and if you only use non-stick spray and no parchment paper, you’ll run the risk of the turnovers sticking to the baking sheet.

“Golden” is Key to Golden Brown

Some people burn their pastry because they imagine golden brown as a deep bronze color. Although that is technically a shade of golden brown, in cooking, golden brown means just beginning to become a golden color. If you get too far into the brown side, you’ve burned your recipe.

FAQ

Before jumping into the recipe, take a few moments to read over this FAQ. It answers all the important questions that you’d have about this recipe.

Do you have to add the egg wash to puff pastry?

It’s recommended to add the egg wash. While it won’t change the flavor of the pastry, it will make it look pale and doughy if you don’t use the egg wash.

Can I freeze these breakfast turnovers?

Yes you can! They’ll keep in the freezer for up to a month.

How To Store Leftover Breakfast Turnovers

Store these turnovers in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator. For longer storage, chill the turnovers, then wrap them in plastic wrap. Next, place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag for up to a month.