Description
Savory pesto pinwheels combine Italian herbs and creamy cheese in a delightful spiral appetizer. Crisp pastry and zesty basil create an irresistible snack perfect for parties where guests will devour these elegant bites.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- ¼ cup (59 ml / 2 fl oz) basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
- ½ cup (50 grams / 1.75 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese (or Parmesan)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp (15 grams / 0.5 oz) pine nuts (optional, for crunch)
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml / 0.08 fl oz) red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, creating an ideal baking environment.
- Pastry Arrangement: Unfold puff pastry on a lightly floured surface, transforming it into a culinary canvas ready for artistic assembly.
- Flavor Layering: Spread pesto across the pastry, maintaining a slender border to prevent seepage, then generously distribute mozzarella cheese and optional pine nuts or red pepper flakes for textural complexity.
- Rolling Technique: Carefully roll the pastry from the longer side, crafting a compact log that envelops the aromatic ingredients in a harmonious embrace.
- Chilling and Slicing: Briefly freeze the log for 10-15 minutes to facilitate precision cutting, then slice into uniform 1/2-inch rounds and arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
- Finishing Touches: Gently brush pinwheel tops with egg wash, ensuring a lustrous golden-brown exterior that promises visual and gustatory delight.
- Baking Process: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, monitoring until the pastry achieves a perfectly puffed and bronzed appearance.
- Serving: Allow pinwheels to rest for 5 minutes, then serve warm, inviting immediate enjoyment of this delectable culinary creation.
Notes
- Chill Pastry Wisely: Freezing the rolled log for 10-15 minutes helps create cleaner, more uniform slices without pastry crumbling or losing shape.
- Prevent Pesto Overflow: Leave a small margin around pastry edges when spreading pesto to avoid messy leakage during baking.
- Customize Flavor Boost: Experiment with different cheese varieties like parmesan or swap pine nuts with chopped almonds for unique taste profiles.
- Perfect Golden Finish: Use egg wash generously and evenly to achieve a beautiful, glossy bronzed exterior that enhances visual appeal and adds subtle richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg