Cooked Ham and Philadelphia Pinwheels

The cooked ham and Philadelphia pinwheels are a simple and appetizing appetizer, ideal for an aperitif or a buffet. Here is the recipe to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 5 slices of sandwich bread without crust
• 150 g of Philadelphia (or other spreadable cheese)
• 5 thin slices of cooked ham
• Chopped chives (optional)
• Black pepper (optional)

Preparation

1. Flatten the sandwich bread slices and roll a rolling pin over them to flatten them further.
2. Spread a uniform layer of Philadelphia on each slice of bread.
3. If desired, sprinkle some chopped chives and a grind of black pepper to add aroma and spice to the filling.
4. Place a slice of cooked ham on each spread bread slice.
5. Carefully roll each slice, being careful not to let the filling ooze out and pressing lightly to make the ham and cheese adhere well.
6. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This allows the pinwheels to compact and be cut more easily later.
7. After resting, remove the plastic wrap and cut each roll into pieces about 2 cm thick.
8. Arrange the pinwheels on a serving plate and serve them.

You can vary this recipe by adding other ingredients inside the pinwheels, such as chopped olives, sun-dried tomatoes or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan for a more Italian variant.

Fun Facts

The pinwheels can be customized in many ways. One idea could be to use pesto instead of Philadelphia for an all-Italian and Mediterranean touch. Remember that the key to success for this type of recipe lies in the freshness of the ingredients and the simplicity of execution.