Puff Pastry Breadsticks with Creamy Filling
Imagine golden and crispy breadsticks, with a soft and creamy heart that melts in your mouth with every bite.
Not the usual breadsticks, but tasty puff pastry cases containing a rich and delicious filling. Making them is a breeze, even for those who aren’t kitchen wizards! The ready-to-use puff pastry simplifies everything: just fill, roll, and bake.
Speaking of cooking, I still remember last New Year’s Eve when I brought these breadsticks to a party with friends. The atmosphere was cheerful, the table laden with all sorts of goodies, but my breadsticks disappeared in a flash! They were literally snapped up, with compliments and requests for seconds.
Since that day, they’ve become a must for every social occasion, from informal aperitifs to the most elegant buffets.
Crunchy on the outside and with a soft, flavorful heart, these breadsticks are incredibly easy to prepare and lend themselves to endless variations.
You can get creative with the filling, adding ingredients such as ham, cheese, vegetables, or spices.
What are you waiting for? Get to work and get ready to impress everyone with these irresistible breadsticks!
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Rest time: 10 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 5
- Cooking methods: Oven, Electric Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Epiphany, All Seasons
- Energy 369.56 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 24.88 (g) of which sugars 1.52 (g)
- Proteins 10.42 (g)
- Fat 25.64 (g) of which saturated 7.01 (g)of which unsaturated 17.58 (g)
- Fibers 1.30 (g)
- Sodium 391.11 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 116 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
- 1 roll puff pastry
- 150 g cow's milk ricotta
- 100 g spinach
- 50 g Grana Padano DOP
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 1 egg
- to taste salt
- A few pumpkin seeds (For decoration)
- 1 pinch black pepper
Tools
- 1 Baking Tray
Steps
Sauté the garlic and prepare the spinach: In a non-stick pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over low heat. Add a whole garlic clove and let it lightly brown to release its aroma into the oil.
Remove the garlic and add the fresh spinach, washed and well-drained. Let them wilt over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are soft.
At this point, remove them from the heat and after they have cooled slightly, squeeze them well with your hands to remove excess water.
Prepare the filling: Finely chop the spinach with a knife.
In a large bowl, work the ricotta with a fork to make it creamier. Add the chopped spinach, grated Parmesan cheese, a dash of nutmeg, a pinch of salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Carefully mix with a spatula, combining all the ingredients well until you obtain a smooth mixture with a bright green color.
Gently unroll the rectangular puff pastry on a sheet of parchment paper.
Using a spatula, spread the ricotta and spinach filling on half of the surface, leaving a free edge of about 0.4 inches to seal the breadsticks well. Fold the puff pastry in half.
Gently press along the edges with your fingers to seal the pastry. With a sharp knife or pastry cutter, divide the pastry into 10 strips lengthwise.
Form and brush the breadsticks: Gently grasp each puff pastry strip at the ends and, with a smooth motion, twist them in opposite directions, as if to form a helix or ellipse.
Lay the formed breadsticks on the parchment-lined baking tray, spacing them slightly apart to prevent them from sticking during baking. In a small bowl, beat the egg yolk with a fork. With a pastry brush, evenly brush the surface of each breadstick.
This step will give your breadsticks a golden color and an inviting crust after baking.
Bake the breadsticks: Before baking, sprinkle the surface of the breadsticks with a handful of organic pumpkin seeds, pressing gently to make them stick.
This will add a crunchy note and an extra touch of flavor. Bake the breadsticks in a preheated static oven at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Baking time may vary slightly depending on the oven, so keep an eye on them in the last few minutes to prevent burning.
Once cooked, remove the breadsticks from the oven and let them cool completely on a rack. This step is important to ensure they maintain their crispiness.
And here they are, once cooled, your Puff Pastry Breadsticks with Creamy Filling are ready to be enjoyed!
Plate them on a nice serving tray, perhaps accompanied by sauces of your choice, such as yogurt sauce, tomato sauce, or homemade mayonnaise.
Perfect for an aperitif, buffet, or picnic, they will conquer everyone with their fragrance, flavorful filling, and irresistible crunchiness. Enjoy! 😋
Here are some storage tips and delicious variations for your Puff Pastry Breadsticks with Creamy Filling:
Storage:
At room temperature: Breadsticks can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 days, in an airtight container or wrapped in a clean tea towel.
In the refrigerator: For longer storage (up to 3-4 days), store the breadsticks in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Before consuming, let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes to return to their crispy state.
In the freezer:
You can also freeze the breadsticks, either raw or cooked. In this case, arrange them on a tray in the freezer until completely frozen, then transfer them to a food bag.
When needed, bake them in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes (if frozen raw) or 5-10 minutes (if frozen cooked).
Variations:
Fillings:
Cheeses: Try replacing ricotta with other cheeses, like gorgonzola, feta, or goat cheese.
Cold cuts:
Add diced cooked ham, speck, salami, or mortadella to the filling.
Vegetables:
Besides spinach, you can use other vegetables like Swiss chard, zucchini, carrots, or peppers, always after cooking and squeezing them.
Spices and herbs:
Enhance the flavor of the filling with fresh or dried herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, or basil.
Sweet:
For a sweet version, fill the breadsticks with pastry cream, Nutella, or jam.
Decorations:
Seeds: Besides pumpkin seeds, you can use sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or sunflower seeds.
Cheeses: Sprinkle the surface of the breadsticks with grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese.
Herbs:
Before baking, sprinkle the breadsticks with chopped herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano.
Shapes:
Braids: Instead of rolling the breadsticks, braid the puff pastry strips for an even more scenic effect.
Knots:
Form small knots with the puff pastry strips for an original and fun result.
Unleash your creativity and create your personalized breadsticks! 😉
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Here are some frequently asked questions about Puff Pastry Breadsticks with Creamy Filling:
Can I prepare the breadsticks in advance?
Yes, of course! You can prepare the breadsticks in advance and store them in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, or freeze them for longer storage.
What type of puff pastry should I use?
You can use either fresh or frozen puff pastry. Just make sure to fully thaw frozen puff pastry before using it.
Can I replace the spinach with other vegetables?
Of course! You can use any vegetable you like, such as Swiss chard, zucchini, carrots, or peppers. Remember to cook the vegetables before adding them to the filling and squeeze them well to remove excess water.
Are the breadsticks suitable for children?
Absolutely yes! Puff Pastry Breadsticks are a tasty and fun snack that children will surely love. You can involve them in the preparation, letting them help you roll out the puff pastry, fill the breadsticks, or brush them with egg.
Can I make the breadsticks gluten-free?
Yes, you can use a gluten-free puff pastry to prepare the breadsticks. Be sure to use a gluten-free flour mix specifically for puff pastry to achieve optimal results.
How can I serve the breadsticks?
You can serve the breadsticks as an appetizer, aperitif, or snack. They are excellent accompanied by sauces of your choice, such as yogurt sauce, tomato sauce, or homemade mayonnaise.
