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Snack & Appetizers

Savory Yule Log

The Savory Yule Log is a very easy no-cook appetizer made with sandwich bread, cream cheese and smoked salmon.
Recipe Savory Yule Log
  • Difficulty Easy
  • Preparation 30 minutes
  • Servings for 6 people

The Savory Yule Log is a very easy no-cook Christmas appetizer made with just 4 ingredients. Inspired by the Bûche de Noël, this recipe is a tasty savory version of the classic sweet Christmas Yule Log, a showstopping dessert that is never missing from the holiday table.

There are countless Yule log recipes, both sweet and savory, and they lend themselves to endless variations, but the one we’re making today brings together a pairing of flavors typical of the Christmas season. To make this Savory Log we’ll use plain sandwich bread filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese, enriched with the aromatic notes of chives, thyme and pink peppercorns. Once it’s rolled up and shaped into a Christmas log, all that’s left is to cover it with more cream cheese and decorate it with myrtle leaves: it will look truly striking.

Perfect to open the Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas lunch, this Savory Christmas Roll is the perfect blend of a classic holiday dish and the convenience of a modern recipe that comes together in just a few minutes. We’re sure its creaminess and delicate balance of flavors will win you over from the very first bite.

Now everyone into the kitchen and tie on your aprons: today we’re making this creamy Savory Yule Log in a flash.

Ingredients for 6 people

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Method

  1. To make the base of your Savory Log, lay a sheet of plastic wrap on your work surface and arrange the slices of sandwich bread on it, overlapping them slightly (about 2 cm, 3/4 inch) to form a rectangle. Flatten them with a rolling pin so that the slices seal together where they overlap. In a bowl, mix the cheese with the pepper and the herbs.
    Making the Savory Yule Log, step 1
    Making the Savory Yule Log, step 2
  2. Use part of this mixture to spread over the rectangle, almost all the way to the edges. Add a layer of smoked salmon, trying to cover the whole surface underneath.
    Making the Savory Yule Log, step 3
    Making the Savory Yule Log, step 4
  3. Roll it up tightly, using the plastic wrap to help you, and place it seam side down. Wrap it in more plastic wrap to get an even roll and let it rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
    Making the Savory Yule Log, step 5
  4. Take the roll out of the fridge, trim the ends, then cut one end diagonally, about 6 cm (2 1/2 inches) long, and place it along one side of the main log. Cover everything with the remaining cheese using a small spatula.
    Making the Savory Yule Log, step 6
    Making the Savory Yule Log, step 7
  5. Decorate your Savory Yule Log with the myrtle and pink peppercorns and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
    Savory Christmas log, a no-cook appetizer

Variations and Alternatives

If you’re not a big fan of smoked salmon or would like to swap this ingredient, a tasty variation of this Savory Yule Log is to fill it with slices of cooked ham and Insalata Capricciosa. Once it’s rolled up and has rested in the fridge, you can decorate it by covering it with cream cheese, pink peppercorns and a few sprigs of rosemary.

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Tips

This Savory Yule Log is a very simple recipe with few ingredients, so for a well-balanced flavor we recommend using good-quality ingredients and, above all, smoked salmon that isn’t too salty.

Storage

The Savory Yule Log keeps in the fridge, well covered, for about 2 days.

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