Ham Rolls

Ham rolls are a tasty and very simple appetizer to prepare. Here I present a classic version.

Ingredients

• 150g of thinly sliced cooked ham
• Cream cheese as needed (such as Philadelphia or another according to preference)
• Fresh chives or other aromatic herbs to taste
• Optionally, chopped nuts or snacks like breadsticks for the filling

Preparation

1. Lay out the slices of cooked ham on a work surface.
2. Spread a generous amount of cream cheese on each slice.
3. Add finely chopped chives (or the herbs you have chosen) and, if you like, include also some chopped nuts for added crunchiness.
4. If you have decided to include breadsticks or other snacks in the filling, place them at the wider end of the ham slice so that they slightly stick out from the sides.
5. Gently roll up the slices of ham around the filling to form a roll.
6. Cut each roll into 2 or 3 pieces, depending on the desired size.
7. Secure the rolls with a toothpick to keep them closed and serve them on a platter.

An Italian variation could be to use, instead of cream cheese, a mixture of ricotta seasoned with grated Parmesan, pepper, and chopped basil, or an arugula pesto for an even more local touch.

These rolls are great served as an appetizer or as part of a buffet. They are also very versatile: you can vary the filling ingredients according to your tastes or what you have in the refrigerator.

Curiosity

The word “involtino” comes from the verb “involgere,” which means to wrap a filling inside a slice of meat or another ingredient. In this case, the cooked ham acts as a “wrapper” for a soft and flavorful filling.