Vegetable-filled Vol Au Vent are perfect for preparing cold, savory, and quick appetizers. For this recipe, grilled zucchini are used to create small crispy and tasty bites. You can use ready-made Vol Au Vent as a base or those homemade by Grandma Benedetta, then simply fill them with a vegetable mixture and serve. Try them also with a vegan filling of guacamole, bean hummus, lupin cream, or pesto. These appetizers are versatile and delicious, perfect for any occasion.
Season of #zucchini grown outdoors: from May to October.
FILLINGS for Vol Au Vent
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Stove, Grill
- Cuisine: French
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer, and Autumn
- Energy 100.38 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 5.79 (g) of which sugars 0.00 (g)
- Proteins 3.13 (g)
- Fat 7.39 (g) of which saturated 2.90 (g)of which unsaturated 0.38 (g)
- Fibers 0.34 (g)
- Sodium 248.42 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 30 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
Vegetable-filled Vol Au Vent
- 4 vol au vent (ready to fill)
- 4 slices zucchini (grilled)
- to taste stracchino (or robiola, mascarpone, ricotta)
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- to taste salt (and mixed herbs – optional)
- 2 slices prosciutto crudo (or other sliced cold cuts of choice)
How many calories are in a vol-au-vent filled with grilled zucchini?
Tools
- Grill
Should ready-made Vol Au Vent be heated?
Ready-made vol au vent do not require actual cooking, but it is recommended to slightly warm them before use to make them crisp. Just put them in a hot oven (356°F static) for a few minutes, just the time to brown them and make them crispy again. This way, they will be perfect for filling and serving.
Vegetable-filled Vol Au Vent
Before proceeding with the filling and to get less dry and tastier vol-au-vent, I suggest brushing them internally with melted butter (at room temperature and not too hot). Or spread a thin layer of mayonnaise inside to keep them softer and enhance the flavor of the filling.
Wash the zucchini, remove both ends, slice them thinly lengthwise.
In the meantime, heat the grill, then cook on both sides until golden.
VEGETARIAN FILLING
Prepare the cheese cream by mixing stracchino with salt, herbs, and oil.
Roll a thin slice of grilled zucchini on itself and place it in the vol-au-vent, then fill with the cheese cream.
FILLING WITH COLD CUTS
Place a thin slice of prosciutto crudo over the grilled zucchini, then roll everything and insert into the vol-au-vent.
VEGAN RECIPES
VEGETABLE CAPONATA
Prepare a caponata using eggplants, zucchini, peppers, onions, celery, olives, and capers. Cook everything and deglaze with vinegar and sugar for a sweet and sour taste. Let it cool slightly and then use the caponata to fill the vol-au-vent.HUMMUS AND VEGETABLES
Use chickpea hummus and crunchy vegetables. Fill the vol-au-vent with hummus and add vegetable sticks (carrots, celery, cucumbers…).PESTO
Use a vegan pesto to fill the vol-au-vent and garnish with a whole almond or nutritional yeast flakes.VEGETARIAN RECIPES
GRILLED VEGETABLES AND SOFT CHEESE
Prepare grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplants, and peppers, cut them into pieces, and mix with a soft cheese cream. Fill the vol-au-vent and decorate with fresh herbs like thyme or basil.CAPRESE WITH TOMATOES AND MOZZARELLA
Cut the tomatoes and mozzarella into small cubes, season with oil, salt, and fresh chopped basil. Fill the vol-au-vent and garnish with a basil leaf.PEPPERS AND FETA
Cook peppers, cut them into pieces, and mix with crumbled feta and aromatic herbs like thyme or oregano. Use this mix to fill the vol-au-vent.PUMPKIN AND TALEGGIO CREAM
Cook the pumpkin with a soffritto of onion and rosemary, then once cooked, blend it until smooth and add taleggio cubes. Fill the vol-au-vent with this mixture.Kale and Ricotta
Saute kale in a pan with garlic, chop it, and mix with ricotta, lemon zest, turmeric, and black pepper. Use this mixture to fill the Vol Au Vent.MUSHROOM AND PARMESAN CREAM
Cook mushrooms in a pan, blend some of them to make a cream, and mix with grated parmesan and some cooking cream (or ricotta). Fill the Vol Au Vent and garnish with fresh parsley.SPINACH OR WILD GREENS WITH GORGONZOLA
Cook fresh spinach (or tender or wild greens) and mix with melted gorgonzola. Add chopped walnuts and use this mix to fill the Vol Au Vent.
Vol au vent can be prepared in advance and served at room temperature or slightly warmed.
STORING Vegetable-filled Vol Au Vent
To store vegetable-filled vol au vent, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate. Consume them within 2 days to maintain freshness and crispness.
How to reheat Vol Au Vent?
To reheat vegetable-filled Vol Au Vent stored in the refrigerator, preheat the static oven to 356°F, place them on a baking sheet, and bake for 5-10 minutes or until crispy and slightly golden.
Alternatively, use a fan oven at 320°F for a more even result, taking care not to heat them too long to avoid drying out.
Or, they can be reheated in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute, covering them with the appropriate cover.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How to soften packaged Vol Au Vent?
To soften vol au vent with butter, simply add a pinch inside and a little on the surface before reheating them in the oven. The butter will melt during reheating, making the pastry softer and tastier, without losing its crispness.
To soften vol au vent without putting them in the oven, you can melt the butter and brush it directly on the surface. The butter will be absorbed by the pastry, softening it without additional heat.Where can you buy Vol Au Vent?
Vol au vent can be purchased at various supermarkets, in the bakery or frozen section. They can also be found in patisseries, well-stocked bakeries, or stores specializing in kitchen products. Additionally, they can be bought online.
How much does a vol au vent weigh?
The weight of a vol au vent can vary depending on the size and thickness of the pastry. Generally, a small vol au vent weighs between 10 and 20 grams.
What are vol au vent called in Italian?
In Italian, vol au vent are also known as “savory cream puffs” – “puff pastry puffs” – “puff pastry baskets”.
