Cheesy Prosciutto Straws Are the Answer to Your Party Prayers

Every week, we spotlight a different food blogger who’s shaking up the blogosphere with tempting recipes and knockout photography. Below, Emily Stoffel of The Pig & Quill shares a cheesy prosciutto snack that’ll have party guests reaching for more.

Photo: Emily Stoffel

These cheese twists are simple. Wholly satisfying. And just junky enough. They’re also pretty charming with their rustic shape and perfectly imperfect presentation. Their edges that beg to be nibbled.

And, of course, they’re enviably versatile. Add them to a cheese board or serve them alongside your favorite creamy dip. Lay a pair of ’em across a shallow bowl of soup and you’ve got an elegant first course. Dress up a salad.

Or, duh, hoover them straight off the tray.

Spicy Prosciutto Cheese Straws
Makes about 18 straws

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (we used Trader Joe’s)
Heaping tablespoon chili-infused oil (we’ve used both this and this)
Handful of shredded cheese (leftover Italian cheese blend from this recipe works well)
4 ounces thinly-sliced prosciutto

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut each slice of prosciutto into about 1-inch strips. (I got 18 strips out of my pack from Trader Joe’s. Tip: if you have the kind that’s pre-sliced and separated with paper, keep the paper intact and cut the prosciutto with scissors. Super simp!)

Roll out puff pastry and brush surface generously with chili oil. Scatter with shredded cheese, pressing cheese lightly to adhere. (Use a restrained hand here — you’re not topping a pizza.)

Cut pastry in half crosswise; then rotate and cut each half into vertical 1-inch strips. Again, eyeball it. I got 18 pieces.

Roughly align a strip of prosciutto with a strip of puff pastry and set onto ungreased baking sheet. Holding one end of the strip to the sheet with your finger, gently twist the other end a couple of times. Press twisted end lightly to the pan to hold the strip in place. It’ll be… rustic, let’s say. No matter. Repeat with remaining strips.

Bake on the center rack for 12-15 minutes or until twists are golden brown and crisp. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

More nosh-worthy snacks for your next shindig:

Baja Ceviche from ‘Tex-Mex From Scratch’

Pesto Swirl from ‘Better on Toast’

Baked Onion Rings from ‘Oh Gussie!’