Salty Cheese Pandorini

17/11/2023

Salty cheese pandorini are a savory twist on the traditional Christmas sweet. These delicious snacks are perfect for an aperitif or as an appetizer during the holidays. Here is the recipe to make them.

Ingredients

500 g of flour
10 g of dry yeast or 25 g of fresh yeast
250 ml of warm milk
80 ml of extra virgin olive oil
10 g of sugar
10 g of salt
2 eggs
200 g of various cheeses to taste (e.g., grated Parmesan, pecorino, emmental)
Aromatic herbs to taste (for example, rosemary or thyme)
1 egg yolk and a little milk for brushing

Preparation

In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm milk and add sugar. Let it rest for a few minutes until foam starts to form on the surface.
In a larger bowl, sift the flour and make a well in the center. Add the mixture of yeast and milk, oil, eggs, and start kneading.
Add the salt and continue to work the dough until it becomes smooth and non-sticky. At this point, incorporate the grated cheeses and aromatic herbs.
Knead the dough a bit more and then transfer it to a floured surface. Divide the dough into smaller portions (depending on how large you prefer your pandorini) and shape them into small pandoros or balls.
Place the pandorini on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, cover them with a damp cloth and let them rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until they double in size.
Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk with a little milk and gently brush the salty pandorini.
Bake the pandorini for about 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown and well-risen.
Once ready, let them cool on a wire rack before serving.

Fun Fact

These salty pandorini are a twist on the classic sweet pandoro and can be customized with different types of cheese and herbs, according to your tastes. Also try adding diced speck or olives for an even more flavorful variation!