Savory Puff Pastry Bows

Savory puff pastry bows are tasty and very versatile snacks. They can be a perfect base for an aperitif or as an appetizer. Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients

• 1 roll of rectangular puff pastry
• 100 g of cooked ham or raw ham in thin slices
• 100 g of soft cheese (such as stracchino or cream cheese)
• 1 egg (for brushing)
• Sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Unroll the puff pastry and cut it into squares or rectangles of similar size.
3. Spread a thin layer of soft cheese on each piece of pastry.
4. Add one or two slices of ham over the cheese. If using raw ham, make sure it’s cut very thin.
5. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, if necessary. Remember that the ham is already salty, so taste before adding more salt.
6. Now, fold each piece of pastry in half to form triangles, or roll them to form bows.
7. Seal the edges well by pressing with the tines of a fork, to prevent the filling from leaking out during cooking.
8. Beat the egg in a bowl and brush the surface of the bows to give them a nice golden color when baked.
9. Sprinkle the bows with sesame or poppy seeds if you wish to add a crunchy and decorative touch.
10. Bake the bows on a baking tray lined with parchment paper for about 15-20 minutes or until they are golden and puffy.
11. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Curiosity

Sesame and poppy seeds are not only decorative but also add a crunchy sensation and a distinctive flavor to the palate. Moreover, puff pastry bows can be enriched with variations according to personal tastes: try adding a bit of arugula for a bitter touch or pieces of sun-dried tomato for a Mediterranean note. Be creative with the ingredients you have at hand, while always maintaining a balance of flavors.