Finger foods are often found at gatherings where guests are encouraged to mingle. And a tray of foods that can be eaten in a bite or two is hard to resist.

When planning a get-together where guests will be circulating, it's good to have a go-to finger food, and finding one with some flavorful staples foodies can't resist is even better. This recipe for "Puff Pastry Tartlets With Bacon, Ricotta and Macaroni" from Lines+Angles checks all those boxes.

Puff Pastry Tartlets With Bacon, Ricotta and Macaroni

Makes 8 pieces

Ingredients

• 14 ounces puff pastry
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 finely chopped shallot
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 3 1/2 tablespoons dry white wine
• Saffron threads
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• 4 tablespoons cream
• 7 ounces macaroni
• 3 ounces bacon, very finely diced
• 1 tablespoon clarified butter
• 5 ounces ricotta cheese
• Thyme, to garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. Roll out the puff pastry to a thickness of 4 cm. Cut out 32 circles (approximately 8 cm in diameter). Cut a hole (diameter approximately 6 cm) out of the center of 24 of the circles to form rings. Place the circles on the baking tray, brush the edge with water and stack 3 rings on top of each circle, brushing each with water (apart from the top layer). Bake in the oven for approximately 15 minutes.
3. Melt the butter in a pan and sweat the shallot until translucent. Sprinkle over the flour and stir until it foams. Deglaze with the wine, then add a pinch of saffron threads and stir in the stock. Simmer gently for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in the cream and blend the sauce to a fine purée with an immersion blender. Reduce a little further or add more stock, depending on the desired consistency. Finally, season to taste with salt and ground white pepper.
5. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Fry the bacon in hot clarified butter until crispy. Drain on paper towel.
6. Mix the pasta through the sauce and divide between the hot pastry cases. Top each one with 1 tablespoon ricotta and 1 tablespoon diced bacon. Serve immediately, garnished with thyme.