The ham and cheese puff pastries are delicious savory bites, characterized by a crispy exterior and a soft, gooey filling. Thanks to their simple preparation, they are perfect to be served as an appetizer, aperitif, or finger food.
The shape of these pastries can vary from small bundles to rolls, depending on the occasion and desired presentation. They can be prepared in advance and served warm or at room temperature, always maintaining a balance of textures and an appealing taste. Ideal for experimenting with different combinations, they lend themselves to creative additions, becoming small treats of flavor perfect for any occasion.
For cooking, we used our new De’Longhi Sfornatutto Chef, a convection oven with air fryer function, 34-liter capacity, and 200W.
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 24 pastries
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients for the ham and cheese puff pastries:
- 1 sheet rectangular puff pastry
- 2 slices cooked ham
- 6 slices scamorza cheese (plain or smoked)
- as needed milk (or 1 beaten egg yolk)
Tools for the ham and cheese puff pastries:
- 1 Oven
- 1 Baking Sheet
- 1 Knife
Steps for preparing and cooking the puff pastries:
Unroll a sheet of rectangular puff pastry, then place the two slices of cooked ham on half of the sheet, and lay the scamorza slices slightly overlapping on top of the ham slices. You can use either classic scamorza slices or smoked ones if you prefer a stronger flavor.
Fold the empty side of the puff pastry over the filled side to form a smaller rectangle that you will seal well on the edges using the tines of a fork.
Cut the puff pastry with a knife or use a pizza cutter first into horizontal strips then into vertical ones to form rectangles or squares, the size is up to you. Then transfer the pastries onto a baking sheet, brush them with milk or, if you prefer a more golden version, with egg yolk previously beaten with a pinch of salt.
If desired, you can also add sesame seeds.
Bake in a preheated oven at 356°F (180°C) for about 15 minutes, until nicely golden.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and with a knife, cut the pastry following the previous cuts and serve.
