Savory Croissants

17/11/2023

Savory croissants are a delicious variation of the classic French croissants, great for a brunch or an aperitif. Here is a basic recipe to which you can add your favorite savory filling.

Ingredients

250 g of flour
5 g of salt
25 g of sugar
12 g of fresh baker’s yeast (or 4 g of dried baker’s yeast)
150 ml of warm milk
125 g of cold butter, sliced
1 egg for brushing
Fillings of choice: ham and cheese, salami, grilled vegetables, pesto, etc.

Preparation

Dough: In a large bowl, mix the flour with the salt and sugar. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and add it to the flour mixture. Knead until you get a smooth dough and let it rise for about 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.
Laminating: Roll out the dough into a rectangle on a floured work surface. Distribute the slices of cold butter over 2/3 of the rectangle, leaving the final third free. Fold it like a book, first bringing the part without butter towards the center and then the part with butter on top. Rotate 90 degrees and repeat the rolling and folding process three more times (each time, let the dough rest in the fridge for 30 minutes).
Shaping: Roll out the laminated dough into a large circle and cut it into triangles. Add the chosen filling to the base of each triangle and roll up the croissants starting from the base to the tip.
Second rise: Arrange the croissants on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, cover them with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
Baking: Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Beat the egg and gently brush the croissants. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until they are golden brown.
Serving: Remove the croissants from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack before serving.

Fun Fact

Croissants, although a French specialty, have Austrian origins, where they are known as Kipferl. The savory version is perfect for those who love pastries but prefer less sweet flavors. In France, it is common to find croissants stuffed with ham and cheese, called “croissants au jambon”.