Salty Saccottini

Salty saccottini are a tasty idea for an appetizer or snack, they can be stuffed in many different ways with various fillings. Here I propose a simple version with ham and cheese, but remember that you can vary the filling according to your tastes or the availability of ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 roll of rectangular puff pastry
• 100g of cooked ham
• 100g of soft cheese (such as mozzarella, stracchino or fontina)
• 1 egg (for brushing)
• Sesame or poppy seeds (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Roll out the puff pastry and cut it into squares of about 10x10 cm.
3. Place a piece of ham and a slice or cube of cheese in the center of each square. Add a pinch of salt and pepper according to taste.
4. Close the squares by joining the opposite corners to form a triangle or by bringing all four corners to the center to form a bundle. Seal the edges well with a fork or simply by pinching them with your fingers.
5. Beat the egg in a small bowl and brush it on the saccottini to give them a nice golden color during baking.
6. If you wish, sprinkle the surface of the saccottini with sesame or poppy seeds to add crunch and flavor.
7. Place the saccottini on a tray lined with parchment paper and bake them for about 15-20 minutes or until they have nicely browned.
8. Take the saccottini out of the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Saccottini are a variation of the more known calzoni, but they come in a smaller size and are often prepared for aperitifs and buffets. Each Italian region may have its own local filling variant, for example, you could try making saccottini with a filling of eggplant and salted ricotta for a Sicilian touch or with speck and mountain cheese for a more alpine taste.

Enjoy your meal!