Strudel with Ricotta and Spinach

I can provide you with a recipe for a strudel with ricotta and spinach, an enticing variation that combines the Italian love for puff pastry with a creamy and nourishing filling. Here’s how to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 1 roll of rectangular puff pastry
• 250 g of ricotta cheese
• 200 g of spinach (fresh or frozen)
• 1 egg (plus one yolk for brushing)
• 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• Nutmeg to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs (optional)

Preparation

1. Begin by blanching the spinach in boiling water for a few minutes if they are fresh, or thaw them if they are frozen. Then squeeze them well to remove all the excess water and roughly chop them.
2. In a bowl, combine the ricotta with the whole egg, Parmesan, a grating of nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Mix well until you get a homogeneous mixture.
3. Add the spinach to the ricotta mixture and mix again.
4. Roll out the puff pastry and distribute the filling along one of the long sides, leaving about a 2 cm free edge. If you wish, you can sprinkle some breadcrumbs over the filling to absorb moisture.
5. Gently roll up the puff pastry on itself starting from the filled side and seal the edges well.
6. Transfer the strudel to a baking tray lined with parchment paper, brush it with a beaten egg yolk, and, if you want, make some small superficial cuts on the surface for decoration.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C (356°F) for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Let it cool for a few minutes before cutting it into slices and serving.

Curiosity

Although strudel is traditionally associated with Austrian cuisine and that of Eastern Europe, it is also widely spread in the regions of northern Italy, especially in Trentino-South Tyrol. While it is traditionally known in its sweet version with apples, raisins, and pine nuts, savory variations such as the one with ricotta and spinach are just as delicious and represent a practical and tasty solution for a complete meal.

Remember that you can always personalize the filling by adding chopped speck or by replacing Parmigiano with another hard cheese for a different flavor. Enjoy your meal!