Savory Zucchini, Ham, and Cheese Strudel

Here is the recipe for the savory zucchini, ham, and cheese strudel. It is a delicious dish that combines the sweetness of zucchini with the rich flavor of ham and the creaminess of cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 rectangular puff pastry sheet
• 2 medium zucchinis
• 100 g of sliced cooked ham
• 100 g of soft cheese (such as fontina or scamorza)
• 1 egg
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• Thyme or herbs of choice

Preparation

1. Start by preheating the oven to 180 °C.
2. Wash and cut the zucchinis into thin rounds. In a pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil with a crushed garlic clove and sauté the zucchinis until they are slightly golden. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme or whatever aromatic herbs you prefer.
3. Unroll the puff pastry sheet and evenly spread the slices of cooked ham on top.
4. Cut the cheese into thin slices and distribute it over the cooked ham.
5. When the zucchinis have cooled down, evenly spread them over the puff pastry.
6. Roll the puff pastry up, starting from the longer side, to make a tight roll.
7. Seal the ends of the strudel well and place it on a baking tray lined with parchment paper with the seam facing down.
8. Beat the egg and brush the surface of the strudel to get a nice golden color during baking.
9. Bake the strudel for about 30 minutes or until the surface is golden brown and crispy.
10. Once baked, let it cool slightly before cutting it into slices.

Interesting Facts

The strudel, both in its sweet and savory versions, finds its origins in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is very popular in all the areas that were part of it, including Northeast Italy. Although we Italians are more known for our apple strudel, we have adapted this specialty into many savory versions, creatively using ingredients typical of our cuisine.