A flaky, golden appetizer filled with seasoned meat, herbs, and cheese—Mediterranean style.
⭐ Description
These Mediterranean Savory Sausage & Cheese Puff Pastry Swirls are a delicious twist on the classic sausage-cheese pinwheel seen in your photos. To give them a Mediterranean soul, the filling is enriched with traditional herbs, creamy cheeses, olive oil, and optional sun-dried tomatoes or olives.
They bake into beautifully crisp golden spirals—perfect for parties, brunch, or mezze platters.
📝 Ingredients (Makes 20–24 swirls)
For the Filling
- 450 g (1 lb) ground meat
Lamb or beef for a Mediterranean flavor, but pork or turkey are optional. - 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp thyme or rosemary
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Optional: ¼ cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Optional: ¼ cup chopped Kalamata olives
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar (as shown in the image)
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 50 g (3 tbsp) softened unsalted butter
- Optional: ¼ cup grated Parmesan
Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed but cold
- All-purpose flour for dusting
For Topping
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds or nigella seeds (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
🍳 Instructions (Long, Detailed Guide)
1. Prepare the Meat Filling
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent—about 5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook 1 more minute.
- Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula until fully browned.
- Season with:
- sea salt
- pepper
- oregano
- thyme
- smoked paprika
- When the meat is cooked, drain excess liquid.
- Add optional sun-dried tomatoes or olives for a deeper Mediterranean flavor.
- Let the filling cool completely before mixing with cheese.
Tip: Warm filling melts the butter and cheese too quickly, making rolling harder.
2. Make the Cheese Mixture
In a large bowl combine:
- the cooled cooked meat
- shredded cheddar
- crumbled feta
- softened butter
Mix until everything is evenly combined.
The mixture should resemble the one in your top-left image: chunky, cheesy, and spreadable.
3. Prepare the Puff Pastry
- Sprinkle flour lightly on your work surface.
- Roll out the puff pastry into a large rectangle (approx. 12×14 in / 30×35 cm).
- Spread the meat-cheese mixture evenly across the surface, leaving a 1-inch border on one long edge to seal.
- Add a little extra cheese on top if you want the look from the picture.
4. Roll the Pastry Into a Log
- Starting from the long edge opposite the border, roll the pastry tightly toward the empty edge.
- Press gently at the end to seal the seam.
- Place the roll seam-side down on a cutting board.
- Chill for 10–15 minutes for easier slicing.
5. Slice Into Spirals
Use a sharp knife to cut the log into ½-inch (1.25 cm) thick slices.
You should get about 20–24 pinwheels.
The slices should resemble the image in the bottom-left photo—neat coils with visible layers of pastry and filling.
6. Bake
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange the pinwheels spaced apart.
- Brush tops with egg wash.
- Sprinkle optional sesame or nigella seeds.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until puffy, crisp, and golden brown.
They should come out looking like the bottom-right picture: beautifully browned with bubbling cheese.
7. Serve
- Let them cool slightly.
- Top with chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve warm as appetizers or part of a Mediterranean mezze platter.
🌿 Mediterranean Serving Ideas
- Pair with tzatziki, hummus, or garlic yogurt dip
- Serve with olives, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber salad
- Add a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of za’atar for flavor depth
🧿 Tips for Success
- Make sure the filling is cool before spreading on pastry.
- Chill the filled roll before cutting to get perfectly round slices.
- Use good-quality puff pastry—it makes a big difference.
- Feta adds tang and saltiness that balances the cheddar beautifully.