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Savory Befana Stocking

Savory Befana Stocking: golden puff pastry filled with ham and melty provola, an original appetizer for Epiphany.
Recipe Savory Befana Stocking
  • Difficulty Medium
  • Preparation 20 minutes
  • Cooking 30 minutes
  • Servings for 6 people

As Epiphany approaches, the wish to surprise friends and family with a special appetizer grows stronger. Break with the tradition of the classic sweet stocking (in Italy the Befana, a kindly old woman on a broomstick, fills children’s stockings with sweets on the night of January 5) and let yourself be tempted by this savory Befana stocking recipe: a rustic, eye-catching creation, perfect if you want to impress with flavor and originality. Make a cheerful baked savory stocking at home: two soft layers of puff pastry savory stocking hold a generous, gooey, hearty filling in which ham meets mozzarella, or a mix of cheeses and cured meats of your choice, to bring out all the flavor of savory Epiphany bites.

Making this quick and easy savory Befana stocking is a real pleasure if you love getting your hands in the dough: it’s a great chance to get kids involved in the kitchen, letting them have fun with decorations made from the pastry scraps. The classic filling of ham and mozzarella is enhanced by the crisp golden top, but don’t hesitate to customize it with sautéed mushrooms or seasonal vegetables. The recipe lends itself to countless variations, becoming the perfect Epiphany savory buffet idea or a creative appetizer to bring to the table and share festive moments.

This savory stocking filled with cheese and cured meats makes for a convivial, satisfying experience: serve it piping hot to enjoy the melty cheese, or present it warm in slices at a hearty aperitivo. If you’d like to fill out your buffet, take inspiration from our similar recipes such as the Savory Pandorini with Cheese Sauce, the Savory Christmas Cookies or the fragrant Savory Parmigiano Cookies. Discover how to make a savory Befana stocking step by step: you’ll turn your Epiphany table into a true celebration of flavors and colors. Nothing will be more welcome than this savory stocking recipe with ham and mozzarella, a symbol of togetherness and a new tradition.

Ingredients for 6 people

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Method

  1. To make the savory Befana stocking, start by unrolling the first sheet of puff pastry directly on its parchment paper and placing it on a large baking sheet or roasting pan.
  2. Fill the surface of the pastry by arranging the slices of ham and the provola (or scamorza), thinly sliced or diced, taking care to lay out the ingredients already following the imaginary shape of a stocking; to make this easier and get a precise result, you can first draw the outline on a sheet of parchment paper (or you can download and print our ready-made template) and use it as a guide under the pastry.
    Savory Befana Stocking, step 2: ham and provola arranged in the shape of a stocking on the puff pastry
  3. Unroll the second sheet of puff pastry and gently lay it over the filled base, completely covering the filling.
  4. With your fingers, press firmly all around the filling to seal the two layers of pastry and keep the cheese from leaking out during baking, then use a pastry wheel or a small sharp knife to cut out the stocking shape, removing the excess dough.
  5. Don’t throw away the leftover puff pastry scraps: roll them out slightly and use them to make fun decorations such as stars, hearts, strips or a twisted border to put on top of the stocking, pressing lightly so they stick.
    Savory Befana Stocking, step 5: pastry scrap decorations pressed onto the stocking
  6. In a small bowl, beat the whole egg and use it to brush the entire surface of the stocking and the decorations evenly, for a perfect golden color.
    Savory Befana Stocking, step 6: stocking brushed with beaten egg
  7. Prick the surface of the stocking with the tines of a fork or a toothpick to let the steam escape and bake in a preheated conventional oven at 180 °C (350 °F) for about 30 minutes, or until the top is puffed and nicely golden.
  8. Take your savory stocking out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes so the filling settles slightly before bringing it to the table and serving it still hot and melty. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!

Variations and Alternatives

You can make the same recipe using pie dough or pizza dough for a more rustic, less flaky texture.

Tips

If you want to make the stocking even richer, you can add sautéed mushrooms or grilled zucchini to the filling, or replace the ham with speck or salami. For a vegetarian version, try a filling of ricotta and spinach or tomato and mozzarella (well drained).

Storage

The savory Befana stocking can be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days in an airtight container. Before eating it, we suggest warming it briefly in the oven to make the pastry crisp again.

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