Puff Pastry Roses with Finocchiona

Puff Pastry Roses with Finocchiona are a tantalizing appetizer with a stunning visual effect, perfect for impressing your guests. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 1 roll of rectangular puff pastry
• 100 g of thinly sliced finocchiona
• 100 g of melting cheese, such as Fontina or Provolone, in slices
• A bit of milk or one egg for brushing

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Unroll the puff pastry and cut it into horizontal strips about 5 cm wide.
3. On the top half of each strip, place a slice of finocchiona, taking care not to cover the pastry completely.
4. Lay a slice of cheese over the finocchiona.
5. Fold the bottom half of the pastry over the filling, so as to cover it.
6. With a sharp knife, cut each folded strip into three or four pieces, depending on the length.
7. Roll each piece on itself, starting from one end, to form a rosette.
8. Place the roses on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Brush the roses with a bit of milk or with the beaten egg, to ensure they turn golden while baking.
10. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until puffy and golden.

Serve the Puff Pastry Roses with Finocchiona warm or lukewarm, they will make a great start to any meal.

Curiosity

Finocchiona is a typical Tuscan salami, famous for its spiced aroma given by the fennel seeds it contains. If you love this recipe, you might also experiment with other deli meats like mortadella or cooked ham for different takes on the theme.