Rolled Puff Pastry Bites with Tuna and Bacon-Cheese
Slice golden puff pastry rolls filled with tuna-olive or bacon-cheddar into party bites. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. Makes about 24 savory appetizers.
I love party food that looks fancy but is really just a few simple things rolled up. These puff pastry bites give you two flavors in one tray, so there is something for everybody, and they disappear fast. I like that I can freeze them and bake them when guests arrive.
Saúl’s Tip
After rolling the pastry into a log, chill it for 20 minutes before slicing. Cold dough cuts cleanly, and the spirals keep their neat shape in the oven.
Tips for Success
- Work with cold dough. If it softens, slide it back into the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
- Use a very sharp knife and a sawing motion so the rolls keep their shape.
- Do not overfill, or the filling will leak while baking.
- Space the slices apart so the edges brown evenly.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Freeze unbaked slices on a tray, then store in a bag for up to 1 month. Bake from frozen at 400°F for 22 to 25 minutes. Baked bites keep 2 days in an airtight container and reheat well at 350°F for 5 minutes.
Variations
- Fill with pesto and sun-dried tomato.
- Use poppy seeds on top in place of sesame.
- Make a veggie roll with spinach, feta and a pinch of nutmeg.
Rolled Puff Pastry Bites with Tuna and Bacon-Cheese
Ingredients
Instructions
- Keep the pastry in the refrigerator until the fillings are ready. Cold dough rolls neatly and puffs up better.
- Heat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the tuna filling. Flake the drained tuna with a fork and stir in the tomato sauce and chopped olives.
- If your bacon is not yet cooked, fry it in a skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until browned and crisp. Drain it on paper towels and crumble it.
- Unfold the pastry on a lightly floured counter and cut it in half to make two long strips.
- Spoon the tuna mix in a line down the middle of one strip, leaving 1/2 inch of bare dough on both long sides.
- Cut the cheese into thin strips. Lay them down the center of the second strip and scatter the bacon on top.
- Brush one long edge of each strip with beaten egg. Fold the dry edge over the filling, then roll toward the egg edge and press to seal. Set the roll seam side down.
- Brush the tops with egg. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the tuna roll and oregano over the bacon-cheese roll.
- With a sharp knife, cut each roll into 1-inch slices. Space them out on the baking sheet.
- Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until deep golden brown and puffed. Cool 5 minutes before serving warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make puff pastry appetizers ahead?
Yes. Fill, roll and slice the bites, then freeze them on a tray and bag them. Bake from frozen, adding 3 to 5 minutes.
How do I keep puff pastry from getting soggy?
Drain wet fillings well, leave a border of bare dough, and keep the dough cold. Brush with egg only on the outside.
What other fillings work?
Try pesto and mozzarella, ham and Swiss, or chopped spinach and feta. Keep the fillings fairly dry.
