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Sausage Pinwheels with Basil, Spinach, and Red Peppers Recipe

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★★★★

3.9 from 44 reviews

These savory Sausage Pinwheels combine spicy Italian sausage, herbed cream cheese, and roasted red peppers wrapped in flaky puff pastry, perfect as an appetizer or party snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Sausage Filling

  • 4 links (about 12 ounces) spicy or sweet Italian sausage, casing removed
  • 2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press

Cream Cheese Mixture

  • 4 ounces whipped cream cheese, softened to room temp
  • 1 (3/4 ounce) package fresh basil, leaves chopped
  • 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

Assembly

  • 1 sheet all-butter puff pastry (from a 14 ounce package), thawed and kept cold
  • 1 1/4 cup shredded Italian four cheese blend
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 cup finely sliced roasted red peppers (from a jar), patted dry of liquid
  • 1 egg, whisked for egg wash
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley or basil leaves, for garnish
  • Grated parmesan, optional garnish

Instructions

  1. Gather Ingredients: Begin by gathering and prepping all of your ingredients according to the ingredient list above (keep the puff pastry cold) to have ready and organized for use.
  2. Cook Sausage: Place a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, and once hot, crumble in the sausage. Cook the sausage, breaking it up vey well into small crumble with a wooden spoon or spatula, until cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add in the garlic, and stir to incorporate just until it becomes aromatic, about 30 seconds or so.
  3. Drain Sausage: Spoon the cooked sausage onto a paper towel-lined plate or bowl to drain of excess fat, and to cool to room temp.
  4. Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: While the sausage cools, add your room temp whipped cream cheese to a bowl, and using a spatula, mix it up to help it become creamy. Add to this your chopped basil leaves and chopped spinach, along with the lemon zest plus a pinch or two of salt and pepper, and fold together until very well combined.
  5. Roll Puff Pastry: Once the sausage has cooled, place your thawed (but cold) puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured work surface in front of you. Gently roll it so that it is roughly 10 x 13 inches.
  6. Spread Cream Cheese: Next, spread the basil cream cheese over the sheet of puff pastry, keeping a 1/2 inch border at the top end of the puff pastry sheet for easier sealing.
  7. Layer Ingredients: Then, sprinkle over 3/4 cup of the Italian four cheese blend, followed by the Italian seasoning, the cooled sausage, and the roasted red peppers. Top this with the remaining 1/2 cup of four cheese blend.
  8. Roll Up Pastry: Brush that top 1/2 inch border very lightly with some of the whisked egg, and beginning from the bottom, carefully roll the puff pastry upwards, jelly roll-style, as tightly as you can to keep the ingredients nice and snug. Rest the pinwheel log on its seam.
  9. Chill: Wrap the pinwheel log in plastic wrap, place onto a platter and into the freezer to chill for 40 to 45 minutes. (This will make the puff pastry nice and cold again, and much easier to slice.)
  10. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°, and line a large baking sheet (or two) with parchment paper.
  11. Prepare for Baking: Once the pinwheel log has chilled, place it on a work surface in front of you and unwrap it. Brush it all over very lightly with the whisked egg, and cut the log in half, creating 2 smaller logs.
  12. Slice Pinwheels: Using a serrated knife, slice each log into 8 slices (roughly 3/4 inch thick), for a total of 16 sausage pinwheels. Place the pinwheels onto your prepared baking sheet(s).
  13. Brush and Bake: Brush the top of each sausage pinwheel very lightly with the whisked egg, and place them into the oven to bake for about 23 to 24 minutes, or until golden brown and flaky.

Notes

  • Keep the puff pastry cold until ready to use to ensure flakiness.
  • Chilling the rolled pinwheel log in the freezer makes slicing easier and helps maintain shape while baking.
  • Using a serrated knife helps achieve clean slices without squashing the pastry.

Keywords: Sausage Pinwheels, Puff Pastry Appetizer, Italian Sausage Recipes, Party Snacks, Easy Appetizers

Find it online: https://foodarohub.com/sausage-pinwheels-with-basil-spinach-and-red-peppers-recipe/