Savory Christmas Star with a Gooey Heart. If you’re looking for a scenic, super-quick idea that everyone will agree on, my Star is the dish for you!
It’s not just an appetizer, but a true Christmas centerpiece that brings joy and flavor to your festive table.
How many times have you opened the fridge to tidy up and found that forgotten roll of puff pastry, with the expiration date staring at you threateningly? It happened to me just yesterday! Since I have a golden rule in the kitchen — don’t waste anything — I decided to transform that pastry into something magical for the holidays.
The peculiarity of this recipe lies in its filling: a timeless combination between the sweetness of cooked ham and the gooey heart, all enriched with the Mediterranean aroma of oregano and tomato puree.
What makes this star even more special is the garnish with black olives, which I added to each tip to give an extra touch of character and recall the colors and flavors of true Italian pizza.
Making it is a breeze and the result is impressive.
The pastry becomes crispy and golden on the outside, while the inside remains soft and juicy.
It’s perfect for sharing: each guest can detach their star tip with their hands, enjoying the still warm filling!
Besides being an excellent anti-waste solution, what surprised me the most was the speed.
The result is impeccable both cooked in the traditional oven, for a classic browning, and in the air fryer, which makes it incredibly crispy in even quicker times.
It’s the ideal solution for those who have little time but don’t want to give up a touch of Christmas magic. You don’t need to be kitchen experts: just a roll of pastry, a pinch of inventiveness, and the magic is done.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 6
- Cooking methods: Electric oven, Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
- Energy 315.64 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 19.47 (g) of which sugars 0.64 (g)
- Proteins 9.86 (g)
- Fat 22.32 (g) of which saturated 3.05 (g)of which unsaturated 12.89 (g)
- Fibers 1.34 (g)
- Sodium 536.95 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 115 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
Savory Christmas Star with a Gooey Heart
- 1 roll puff pastry
- 6 tomato puree
- 2.8 oz cooked ham
- 4.4 oz pizza mozzarella (or cheese)
- to taste olives
- to taste dried oregano
- 1 egg yolk (with a tablespoon of milk)
- to taste salt (to season the tomato sauce)
Tools
- Air Fryers
- Brush
Steps
Savory Christmas Star with a Gooey Heart
Roll out the round puff pastry sheet.
Place a small bowl in the center to mark the circle.
With a sharp knife, make radial cuts starting from the outer edge towards the bowl, and then cut the inside of the central circle creating small triangles (as you see in my photo).
Remove the small bowl.
In a bowl, season the tomato sauce with a pinch of salt.
Spread a teaspoon of tomato puree on each slice, spreading it well but not excessively (to avoid over-moistening the pastry).
Now add the slices of cooked ham and the cheese or mozzarella pieces over the tomato.
Take the tips of the triangles you created in the center and fold them outward, making them adhere well to the edges of the pastry. In this way, you will seal the filling creating the typical star shape.
Brush the entire surface with the beaten egg with a tablespoon of milk to obtain that amber and shiny color you see in my photo.
In each star hollow, place a nice black olive. This trick not only decorates but adds a bold flavor that balances the sweetness of the ham.
Don’t forget a generous sprinkle of oregano on each slice to give that typical pizza aroma to every bite.
Bake at 392°F for 20 minutes. Convection oven mode
If you want to shorten the times further, you can also cook your Star in the air fryer! In this case, the times are reduced, and the result is even more fragrant:
Temperature: 356°F or 374°F.
Time: About 10-12 minutes (check browning halfway through cooking).It should be well golden on the surface.
Take it out of the oven and serve hot and gooey!
Enjoy your meal.
Advice
Important advice for those using the Air Fryer
“If you decide to use the air fryer for an even quicker cooking, pay attention to a small technical detail: check that the pastry diameter fits comfortably in the basket!
Check the measurements: Before you start filling, place the parchment paper with the pastry in the basket to ensure it fits.
Adjust the shape: If the basket is small, you can slightly reduce the star’s diameter or use a smaller central bowl to maintain proportions.
Ensure that the parchment paper edges do not entirely cover the sides, so the hot air can circulate and make the base crispy as you see in the photo.”
Important advice for those using the Air Fryer
“If you decide to use the air fryer for an even quicker cooking, pay attention to a small technical detail: check that the pastry diameter fits comfortably in the basket!
Check the measurements: Before you start filling, place the parchment paper with the pastry in the basket to ensure it fits.
Adjust the shape: If the basket is small, you can slightly reduce the star’s diameter or use a smaller central bowl to maintain proportions.
Ensure that the parchment paper edges do not entirely cover the sides, so the hot air can circulate and make the base crispy as you see in the photo.”
Tips for a perfect result
Use the puff pastry well-chilled from the fridge; it will be much easier to cut and won’t stick to your fingers while folding the triangles.
If you use cheese or mozzarella, dry them well with paper towels before placing them on the pastry; this way, you’ll avoid them releasing too much water during cooking, keeping the base crispy.
Before baking, you can add a handful of sesame or poppy seeds on the brushed pastry parts; they will give a rustic touch and an even more particular flavor.
Storage
If there are leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Do not use the microwave because it would make the pastry soggy. Better to reheat it for 5 minutes in a hot oven or in the air fryer at 320°F to make it crispy again and gooey the cheese heart once more.
Do not use the microwave because it would make the pastry soggy. Better to reheat it for 5 minutes in a hot oven or in the air fryer at 320°F to make it crispy again and gooey the cheese heart once more.
If you liked this recipe, click on many stars, thank you very much.
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