Puff Pastry Eggs with Ham and Cheese

Delicious and decorative Easter dish, Slovenian puff pastry stuffed with eggs, ham, and cheese look like giant bon-bon candy. You can serve them as an appetizer or a snack.

The Easter of 1970 is forever etched in my memory. What I remember as a four-year-old are these eggs wrapped in puff pastry and reuniting with my parents I haven't seen in six months.

On October 27^th, 1969, right before I turned four, my hometown Banja Luka was hit by series of catastrophic earthquakes. The strongest was the magnitude of 6.5 Richter scale (9 on the Mercalli scale).

It devastated the city and surrounding areas. The severe earthquake killed 20, seriously or slightly injured 1170, and left 65,000 homeless. Three neighboring towns were destroyed also. A textile factory damaged during the earthquake began leaking sulfuric acid and other chemicals, contaminating the river and water supply.

With contributions from all over the world, the city started to recover and rebuild. I was evacuated to my aunt Karolina that lived in a small town Celje in Slovenia (then also the Republic of Yugoslavia).

Meanwhile, my parents and those citizens that remained after the evacuation lived in provisional barracks and in a large number of weekend trailers which successfully substituted tents for those roofless.

But bitter cold and heavy snowfall of three feet and even serious flu threatened to deteriorate their situation. Furthermore, another tremor hit the town on December 31st to spoil the New Year's atmosphere, which killed one person and injured more than fifteen.

Slovenia

I don't have many recollections of my time in Slovenia. Mom says after six months I only spoke Slovenian dialect and had to re-learn Bosnian. But I do remember that Easter day of 1970 when my parents came for me.

And I remember having these puff pastry eggs that look like candy. Although not keen on food I ate the whole wrap, ham and cheese included. It was a great day indeed.

The older I get the more I remember events from my past (but don't ask me what I did yesterday, ha!) and food always plays a prominent role in those memories. Like the Croatian breakfast casserole and the memory of my aunt Jelica.

Who knows what dish I'll remember next, but you can trust I'll share it with you. Meanwhile, scroll to the bottom for the collection of more delicious Easter recipes. 🙂

If you like this appetizer, here are some suggestions to make your Easter day a feast:

• Breakfast/brunch - LAMB CINNAMON ROLLS
• Lunch/dinner - ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH LAMB
• Dessert - NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE IN KATAIFI NESTS

How to Make Puff Pastry Eggs with Ham and Cheese:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. On a lightly floured surface, cut each sheet of puff pastry into 4 equal squares. With a rolling pin, roll out each square until it's almost double in size.
4. Assemble the pastries. Place a slice of cheese on each square. Divide the paprika, chives, and ham between the squares. Top with boiled egg.
5. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and water. Brush the top border of a pastry square with the egg wash. Fold two edges (on the long side of the egg) over the egg, with the brushed border being on top. Gently press to seal (this will prevent the pastry from opening during baking).
6. Twist the ends to form a candy wrap shape - one side towards you and the other in the opposite direction. Lightly pinch the pastry to retain the shape. Repeat with the remaining squares.
7. Place the pastry wraps onto the prepared baking sheet. Brush the top of each with the egg wash. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cold with grainy mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.

Puff Pastry Eggs with Ham and Cheese Recipe

By Jas

Slovenian puff pastry stuffed with eggs, ham, and cheese is a delicious and decorative Easter dish.

5 from 2 votes

Rate this Recipe Print Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine Slovenian

Yields 8 servings

Calories 542 kcal

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 puff pastry sheets, 1 package, thawed
• ▢ 8 slices Swiss cheese, extra-thin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• ▢ 1 tablespoon chopped chives
• ▢ 8 slices deli ham, sliced
• ▢ 8 hard-boiled small eggs
• ▢ 1 egg+1 teaspoon water
• ▢ Sesame seeds for garnish, optional

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Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• On a lightly floured surface, cut each sheet of puff pastry into 4 equal squares. With a rolling pin, roll out each square until it's almost double in size.
• Assemble the pastries. Place a slice of cheese on each square. Divide the paprika, chives, and ham between the squares. Top with boiled egg.
• In a small bowl, whisk the egg and water. Brush the top border of a pastry square with the egg wash. Fold two edges (on the long side of the egg) over the egg, with the brushed border being on top. Gently press to seal (this will prevent the pastry from opening during baking).
• Twist the ends to form a candy wrap shape - one side towards you and the other in the opposite direction. Lightly pinch the pastry to retain the shape. Repeat with the remaining squares.
• Place the pastry wraps onto the prepared baking sheet. Brush the top of each with the egg wash. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cold with grainy mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

~ Free Tip ~

• You can use any cheese you like that is pliable and easily melts, like individually wrapped American cheese.
• Swap ham with turkey, if you wish. 

Nutrition

Calories: 542kcal (27%) | Carbohydrates: 29g (10%) | Protein: 21g (42%) | Fat: 38g (58%) | Saturated Fat: 12g (60%) | Cholesterol: 217mg (72%) | Sodium: 588mg (25%) | Potassium: 205mg (6%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 548IU (11%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 170mg (17%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)

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