Salted puff pastry crown

The salted puff pastry crown is a picturesque and tasty dish, simple to make and perfect for a buffet or a delicious appetizer. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 1 roll of rectangular puff pastry
• 200 g of cooked ham slices
• 200 g of cheese slices (for example, Emmental or Provolone)
• 1 egg yolk for brushing
• Sesame or poppy seeds (optional) for decoration
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Roll out the puff pastry and distribute a uniform layer of cooked ham over it, followed by a layer of cheese, leaving about 1 cm free on the edges.
3. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
4. Roll up the puff pastry starting from the long side to form a cylinder.
5. Slice the cylinder lengthwise, leaving one end intact so that you can weave the two halves together.
6. Intertwine the two halves with each other, keeping the cut side up so that the filling is visible.
7. Join the ends of the woven roll to form a crown, pressing well to seal them.
8. Carefully transfer the crown to a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
9. Brush the surface of the crown with the beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds if desired.
10. Bake the salted puff pastry crown for about 20-25 minutes or until it turns a nice golden color.
11. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Curiosity

This salted puff pastry crown can be customized according to your tastes. For example, you could add aromatic herbs such as rosemary or thyme for an extra touch of green and flavor, or vary the type of ham and cheese, perhaps using slices of speck and smoked cheese for a smoky flavor.