Savory Pastries with Meat and Cheese

Here is a recipe to prepare savory pastries with meat and cheese, with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 1 roll of rectangular puff pastry
• 100 g of soft cheese (for example, stracchino or taleggio)
• 100 g of cooked meat of your choice (cooked ham, mortadella, bresaola, etc.)
• 1 egg for brushing
• Sesame or poppy seeds for garnish (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
2. Roll out the puff pastry and spread the soft cheese on it, leaving a free margin at the edges.
3. Evenly distribute the cooked meat you have chosen, previously cut into pieces or strips, over the cheese.
4. Roll up the puff pastry starting from the longer side, forming a compact roll.
5. Cut the roll into slices about 1-2 cm thick, obtaining disks.
6. Arrange the savory pastries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each one.
7. In a bowl, beat the egg and brush the savory pastries to give them shine and promote browning.
8. If you wish, sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds on the savory pastries for decoration.
9. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and well cooked.
10. Remove the savory pastries from the oven and let them cool down before serving.

The savory pastries with meat and cheese are perfect for an appetizer or buffet. You can vary the type of cheese and meat according to your preferences or what you have available. If you want to add an even more Italian touch, try using buffalo mozzarella and spicy salami or other typical Italian cold cuts as filling.

Curiosity

The term “savory pastries” in Italian cuisine refers to small savory snacks, which are ideal to accompany an aperitif. They can be based on puff pastry, shortcrust pastry, or even pizza dough, stuffed with a variety of ingredients, from simple cherry tomatoes and oregano, to more elaborate combinations with cold cuts and cheese.