If you’re looking for an appetizer that will impress your guests without too much effort in the kitchen, then puff pastry bundles with ham and cheese are the perfect solution. Appetizers with puff pastry, as we know, are a practical and always appreciated option to create tantalizing and creative recipes, like the salmon pinwheels, the olive breadsticks, or a colorful vegetable quiche. If you have ready-made rectangular puff pastry at home, you can divide it into 6 parts and fill it with cooked ham and mozzarella (or with the cheese of your choice) to create a quick appetizer that will delight everyone’s palate. The versatility of these puff pastry bundles makes them perfect for any occasion, whether it’s an informal buffet with friends or an elegant aperitif. Their sandwich-like shape, combined with sesame seed decoration, also makes them aesthetically appealing. Whether you’re organizing a last-minute dinner or want to add a touch of creativity to your menu, puff pastry bundles with ham and cheese are the ideal choice.
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6 people
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
- Energy 352.86 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 20.01 (g) of which sugars 0.32 (g)
- Proteins 13.35 (g)
- Fat 24.42 (g) of which saturated 6.84 (g)of which unsaturated 16.31 (g)
- Fibers 0.77 (g)
- Sodium 419.53 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 3 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for 6 Puff Pastry Bundles with Ham and Mozzarella
To prepare gluten-free puff pastry bundles, you can use ready-made gluten-free puff pastry. If you are celiac, remember that the cooked ham must have the “gluten-free” label. If you can’t find rectangular puff pastry, you can cut a rectangle from the round one and use the leftover pastry to make these quick snacks.
- 1 roll puff pastry (rectangular)
- 5.29 oz cooked ham
- 5.29 oz mozzarella
- 1 egg
- as needed sesame seeds (for garnish)
Tools
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Small Bowl
- 1 Brush
- 1 Baking Tray
How to Prepare Puff Pastry Bundles with Cooked Ham and Mozzarella
To prepare puff pastry bundles with ham and cheese, start by cutting the mozzarella into fairly thin slices (1). Roll out the puff pastry and divide it into 6 rectangles of equal size (2). Fill each rectangle with cooked ham (3).
Lay the mozzarella on top, leaving the top and bottom edges free and a small space in the center, where you will fold the bundle to close it (4). Fold the corners of the rectangle towards the center to enclose the mozzarella (5). Break the egg into a small bowl and beat it with a fork. Using a kitchen brush, brush the edges of the pastry and the corners you’ve folded with the beaten egg (6).
Fold the bottom half of the bundle over the top half and press firmly with your fingers to seal it (7). Place the bundles on a baking tray lined with parchment paper (you can also use the paper the puff pastry was wrapped in), brush them on top with the beaten egg, and decorate them with sesame seeds (8).
Bake the puff pastry bundles with ham and cheese in a preheated oven at 356°F (static) for about 35 minutes, until they are puffed and golden (9). Remove them from the oven and let them rest for a couple of minutes before removing them from the tray.
Serve the puff pastry bundles hot or at room temperature, as a tasty appetizer or, cut in half, as a snack to accompany an aperitif.
Storage
You can store the puff pastry bundles in the refrigerator for a couple of days, then briefly heat them in the oven or microwave before eating.
Tips and Variations
If you don’t have rectangular puff pastry, you can use round pastry by making a rectangle (the dimensions of the rectangle are not crucial; you can even make smaller bundles). With the leftover puff pastry, you can make snacks or rustics.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What can I use instead of ham?
You can use another cold cut – salami, mortadella, speck – smoked salmon, or grilled zucchini or eggplant.
Which cheese is best to use?
I used fairly dry mozzarella, which I still drained well before stuffing the bundles. Alternatively, sweet or smoked scamorza, emmental cheese, or brie will work well.
