Tuna Rustici

Tuna rustici are a delicious appetizer or a perfect snack for outdoor lunches or picnics. Here’s how to prepare them.

Ingredients

• 1 roll of puff pastry
• 150 g of oil-packed tuna, drained
• 100 g of mozzarella (or another melting cheese of your choice)
• 1 egg for brushing
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Oregano or other herbs of your choice

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Roll out the puff pastry and cut it into squares or rectangles, depending on the size you prefer for your rustici.
3. In a bowl, mix the drained tuna with the cheese cut into small cubes or grated, add salt, pepper, and oregano or the herbs you prefer. Blend everything well.
4. Distribute the filling over half of the puff pastry squares, leaving a small edge along the sides.
5. Cover with the remaining squares of puff pastry, sealing the edges well with a fork to prevent the filling from leaking out during baking.
6. Brush the surface of the rustici with the beaten egg to achieve an even browning.
7. Bake the rustici on the middle rack of the oven and cook them for about 15-20 minutes or until they are nicely golden brown.
8. Once ready, let them cool slightly before serving.

Trivia

The term “rustico” in Italian cuisine usually indicates a simple and homely preparation, often involving puff pastry and a filling, which can vary from vegetables to cheeses, meat, or fish. Rustici are well-suited to experimentation and personalization, so you can add to the recipes ingredients to your liking, such as capers, olives, or sun-dried tomatoes to further enrich the flavor of the tuna filling.