Tasty Savory Swirls: The Last Minute Appetizer That Will Delight Everyone!
Are you looking for an idea for an appetizer or starter that is both easy, quick, and incredibly tasty? Our savory swirls are the perfect answer! These finger food snacks will win over your guests at the first bite with their golden crispiness and savory filling. Prepared in the blink of an eye with a few basic ingredients, these delights are so versatile that you can customize them with your favorite fillings, creating a different taste surprise every time.
Imagine the scene: your friends arrive, the atmosphere is convivial, and you serve a tray of these fragrant swirls. The combination of crispy pizza dough with the creaminess of stracchino, the savory taste of mortadella, and the slightly tangy touch of artichokes creates an irresistible balance of flavors. And the best part? The preparation is so simple and quick that you can make them even at the last minute, guaranteeing a resounding success.
Don’t settle for the usual platter of cold cuts and cheeses! With our savory swirls, you’ll bring a touch of originality and deliciousness to the table that will leave everyone speechless. Their inviting shape and tempting aroma make them perfect for any occasion, from a casual aperitif to a more structured starter. And if you have guests with particular tastes or intolerances, don’t worry: the base is neutral and lends itself to a thousand variations, allowing you to please everyone.
Don’t waste any more time! Follow our step-by-step recipe and prepare these savory swirls that will disappear in no time!
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 10 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 8
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 187.39 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 8.97 (g) of which sugars 0.77 (g)
- Proteins 8.76 (g)
- Fat 12.73 (g) of which saturated 1.96 (g)of which unsaturated 3.55 (g)
- Fibers 0.98 (g)
- Sodium 216.81 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 75 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 package pizza dough (rectangular)
- 5.3 oz Bologna mortadella
- 4.4 oz stracchino cheese
- 3.5 oz artichokes in oil
- 1 egg yolk (for brushing the surface)
Tools
- Kitchen scale
- Baking pan
Procedure: Prepare Your Savory Swirls in a Few Simple Steps
The beauty of this recipe lies in its incredible versatility. Check out the bottom of the recipe for many ideas for tasty variations or get creative and create your favorite combinations! Enjoy!
Preheat the oven to 356°F (fan mode).
Unroll the rectangular pizza dough on a work surface. Arrange the ingredients: Place the slices of mortadella on the dough, leaving about 1/2 inch border free. Spread the stracchino: Cover the mortadella with an even layer of stracchino. Add the artichokes: Drain them well from the oil and scatter them over the surface.Starting from the longer side, roll the dough tightly onto itself, forming a roulade. Wrap the roll in the parchment paper it was packaged in and place it in the freezer for about 10 minutes to firm up. This step is essential to get perfect slices.
Beat the egg yolk in a small bowl. Take the roll out of the freezer and, with a sharp knife, cut it into slices about 3/4 inch thick. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and arrange the swirls slightly spaced apart. Gently brush the surface of each swirl with the beaten yolk. Bake in a preheated oven at 356°F for about 20-25 minutes, or until the swirls are well golden and the dough is cooked. Serve the savory swirls warm or at room temperature. They are delicious both ways!
STORAGE
The cooked savory swirls can be stored at room temperature, well sealed in an airtight container, for about 1-2 days. For longer storage, you can keep them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. If you want to prepare them in advance, you can bake and freeze them once cooled. When ready to serve, thaw them at room temperature or reheat them in the oven for a few minutes to make them crisp again. The filled and rolled dough, before baking, can be stored in the refrigerator for a few hours.
NOTES ON INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
PIZZA DOUGH: You can use either ready-made fresh rectangular pizza dough or puff pastry. Puff pastry will give extra crispiness.
MORTADELLA: If you don’t have mortadella, you can substitute it with cooked ham, prosciutto, salami, speck, or any other deli meat of your choice. For a vegetarian version, try with grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers.
STRACCHINO: Stracchino can be replaced with other creamy cheeses like robiola, Philadelphia, or even well-drained mozzarella or thinly sliced scamorza. For a more flavorful touch, you could use an herb-flavored spreadable cheese.
ARTICHOKES: The artichokes in oil can be replaced with pitted olives, sun-dried tomatoes in oil, sautéed mushrooms, or, as suggested in the original recipe, with thinly sliced grilled zucchini (if in season).
EGG YOLK: The yolk is used to give a nice golden color to the swirls. If you prefer, you can omit it or replace it with a bit of milk or extra virgin olive oil.
RECIPE VARIATIONS FOR SAVORY SWIRLS: A World of Flavors to Explore
1 – PESTO AND CHERRY TOMATO SWIRLS: Replace the stracchino with pesto and add halved cherry tomatoes. Substitute the stracchino with about 3-4 oz of pesto (the amount can vary depending on your taste and the consistency of the pesto).
2 – HAM AND CHEESE SWIRLS: An all-time classic! Use cooked ham and sliced scamorza. Replace the mortadella with the same amount of sliced cooked ham and the stracchino with about 3.5-4.2 oz of thinly sliced or coarsely grated scamorza.
3 – SPINACH AND RICOTTA SWIRLS: A delicate and flavorful filling, perfect also for vegetarians. Prepare about 7 oz of fresh spinach (or 3.5 oz if frozen) sautéed in a pan with a little oil and garlic, well-drained and coarsely chopped. Let cool. Replace the mortadella and stracchino with a filling made of 8.8 oz of well-drained ricotta, chopped spinach, about 1.7 oz of grated parmesan, salt, and pepper to taste.
4 – SWIRLS WITH OLIVES AND ANCHOVIES: For a more intense and Mediterranean taste. Replace the mortadella and artichokes with about 2.8 oz of pitted black olives cut into rings and about 6-8 drained and chopped anchovy fillets in oil. Keep the stracchino (about 3.5 oz) to bind the filling, or you can omit it if you prefer a stronger taste.
5 – SWEET SWIRLS: Why not? Try a sweet version with Nutella and hazelnut crumbs, or with jam and fresh fruit.
NUTELLA VERSION: Spread the pizza dough and slather a generous layer of Nutella (about 5.3-7 oz, depending on your taste). Sprinkle with about 1-1.4 oz of hazelnut crumbs. Roll and cut as indicated in the base recipe. You can omit the yolk for browning or brush with a bit of milk.
JAM AND FRESH FRUIT VERSION: Spread on the dough a layer of about 5.3 oz of your favorite jam. Add pieces of fresh fruit to taste (e.g., strawberries, blueberries, thin slices of apple or pear). Roll and cut. Also, in this case, you can omit the yolk or use milk for browning.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I prepare the savory swirls in advance?
Yes, absolutely! You can prepare the filled roll in advance, wrap it in parchment paper, and store it in the fridge for a few hours. When it’s time to bake, just slice it and bake the swirls. You can also bake the swirls in advance, let them cool completely, and then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the fridge for 3-4 days. For optimal freshness, I recommend reheating them slightly in the oven before serving.
I don’t have ready-to-use pizza dough, can I use other types of dough?
Certainly! You can also use puff pastry, which will add more crispiness to the swirls. Alternatively, if you have the time, you can make homemade pizza dough following your usual recipe. Even a pie crust could be a good option for a different texture.
Can I vary the filling of the savory swirls? Do you have any other suggestions?
Absolutely yes! The beauty of this recipe is its versatility. Besides the variations I’ve suggested (pesto and cherry tomatoes, ham and cheese, spinach and ricotta, olives and anchovies), you can experiment with many other ingredients. For example, you can use sautéed mushrooms and smoked provola, grilled zucchini and scamorza, or an olive tapenade and sun-dried tomatoes. For a more indulgent touch, you can also add some grated cheese like parmesan or pecorino to the filling. Let your creativity run wild!
