These pesto cheese swirls are simple lunch box pastries with a filling of vegan pesto and vegan cheese.
LUNCHBOX PASTRY SWIRLS
These savoury pesto cheese swirls are great for lunch at home or lunch boxes.
Children and adults love these and they are simple enough for children to make themselves, as long as an adult can pop them into the oven.
They are crisp and flaky with a real umami flavour.
To be honest they are rather addictive.
HOW TO SERVE PASTRY SWIRLS
These tasty little golden bites are great on their own, but you can serve them with salad.
If you are at home, you could serve them hot out of the oven with baked beans or baby potatoes and salad.
For your lunchbox, store them in an airtight container and keep your salad separate.
Serve with Vegan Lemon & Chive Dip for dunking
VEGAN PUFF PASTRY
Most brands of puff pastry these days are suitable for vegans, both big brands like Jusrol and supermarket own brands.
The puff pastry to avoid are any which say all butter, as they are just that and not suitable for vegans.
Do make sure to check the back of the pack if it's a brand you haven't tried before.
PUFF PASTRY TIPS
Here are a few tips to help you get the best out of your pastry.
- Ready-rolled puff pastry saves time and gives you a perfect rectangle to work with.
- Take it out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before you are going to use it to let it come to room temperature. If you try and unwrap it while it is cold, it will resist and crack.
- Keep it on the paper it comes wrapped in, it is usually non-stick so the pastry can be moved directly onto a baking tray on the paper.
- Once your pie or swirls are made, you can brush exposed pastry with a little olive oil for a golden finish.
- If you want to freeze a pastry or pie you have made, freeze it after you have added the toppings before you bake it. Flash freeze on a tray, then move to a freezer bag.
VEGAN PESTO
There are lots of brands of vegan pesto. I've tried a few of them and there are not many I really love.
My top picks are Sacla Vegan Pesto and Mr Organic Vegan Pesto.
Of course you can make your own pesto.
VEGAN CHEESE
Everyone has their favourite vegan cheese.
For these swirls you want one that melts well.
We like Violife cheddar with some of their vegan parmesan which is called Prosociano mixed in.
The Violife original flavour is very mild, but melts well and the Prosicano gives a lot of flavour. It has that real parmesan tang.
Vegan Applewood smoked cheese is another good one for flavour that melts well. It works really well in these swirls.
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Then join my Facebook group Living on the Veg. It's a very friendly community with lots of recipes and chat. I'm in there every day chatting.
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN PESTO CHEESE SWIRLS
Scroll down for step-by-step photos of my son making these followed by the printable recipe. If you don't have a printer, hit print and save as a PDF.
STEP 1 - PASTRY
Once your pastry is at room temperature carefully unroll it.
Spread the pesto in an even layer across the pastry.
STEP 2 - CHEESE
Sprinkle cheese in an even layer across the pesto topped pastry.
Roll the pastry in a fairly tight roll.
STEP 3 - SLICE
Once it has been rolled into a sausage shape, cut into slices.
If you are letting a child cut the pastry, a blunt butter knife will cut through the soft pastry easily,
Adults and older children can use a sharp knife.
STEP 4 - BAKE
Place the cut slices flat on a baking sheet. You should be able to see the swirl.
If the pastry comes wrapped in baking paper you can sit it on that on a baking sheet.
I used a non-stick baking mat.
STEP 5 - TASTE TEST
Now these puff pastry swirls are for your lunch, but if would be a crying shame not to taste one, just to make sure.
As you can see they got the thumbs up!
Vegan Pesto Cheese Swirls
Simple lunch box pastries with a filling of pesto and cheese.
Ingredients
- 320 g ready-rolled puff pastry
- 3 tbsp pesto
- 150 vegan cheddar grated , more depending on how cheesy you want it
- pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the pastry from the fridge and pop on a plate to come to room temperature.
- Preheat your oven to 200c/180c fan/400f/gas mark 4.
- Carefully unroll the pastry and spread with pesto.
- Top with an even layer of grated vegan cheese and season with black pepper.
- Slice and place the swirls face up on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until golden.
- Serve hot or leave to cool and store in an airtight container for lunches through the week.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If the vegan cheese you are using is mild, you can add some vegan parmesan to the mixture.
- These pastries once cooled can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- If you want to freeze these, flash freeze on a tray before cooking, then store them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 46.74kcalCarbohydrates: 0.98gProtein: 1.99gFat: 3.91gSaturated Fat: 1.63gCholesterol: 7.71mgSodium: 60.83mgFiber: 0.06gSugar: 0.06g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Mahy
I can see how these delicious swirls can easily become part of my lunch box - delicious and so yum! Easy to make, too, which is as important 🙂
Dannii
We love making pinwheels. So many ways you can adapt them, and easy for kids to make too.
Pris
I can totally see why these are addicting! Cheesy pastry slathered in pesto... hummmm I'll be trying it very soon!
Nart
Looks so good! Also love that it's vegan. I'd have it any day any time!
kim
This recipe was absolutely delicious! So easy and tasty! Will definitely be making again and again!
Jacqueline Meldrum
haha yes me too. My son loves them so that's a plus.
Jacqueline Meldrum
I am so glad you enjoyed thrm. They are a favourite here too.
Jacqueline Meldrum
haha yes, they do rather call out to you.
Jacqueline Meldrum
Super easy and great for lunch. A nice change ftom sandwiches.
Jacqueline Meldrum
Oh yes you can do so many flavours and they are great for kids.
Angie Dennett
What a little sweetheart, he certainly takes his baking seriously.
jac
He does, although these photos are from years ago, he's much bigger now.