How to Make Delicious Stromboli: A Step-by-Step Guide

Italian Stromboli: A Delicious Finger Food or Family Dinner

Stromboli is a classic and flavorful Italian dish that can be enjoyed either as finger food or a hearty meal. Its structure is similar to a strudel: a fresh dough is filled with ham or sautéed meat, cheese, and your choice of vegetables, then rolled up and baked. After baking, it’s sliced into small, individual portions.

Because the slices are single-serving size, Stromboli works perfectly as a finger food at birthday parties or other celebrations, as an appetizer for gatherings, or simply as a satisfying family dinner. For the dough, you can use magical dough, Barbari bread dough, or even baguette dough. Make sure to fill it generously—too little filling will result in a plain bread-like texture without the signature taste.

Besides being delicious, Stromboli is surprisingly simple to make. Follow this guide to learn how to prepare it step by step.

Preparing the Filling

1. Chop the spinach and parsley.

2. Mince the garlic and slice the peppers into rings.

3. Spray a skillet with oil, sauté the ground meat for 6–7 minutes, then set aside.

Making the Dough

1. Reserve ¼ cup of flour to prevent sticking.

2. Mix the remaining flour with yogurt, 1 tbsp olive oil, and ½ tsp salt in a large bowl.

3. Dust your work surface with flour and roll out the dough.

4. Fold the dough and knead by hand. If it doesn’t stick, continue rolling and kneading until smooth and elastic.

Assembling and Rolling Stromboli

1. Divide the dough into two portions and roll each into a 6×10-inch rectangle.

2. Place the dough on a baking tray and spread 2 tbsp pizza sauce on each piece.

3. Distribute the meat, spinach, cheese, and peppers evenly over the dough.

4. Add another 2 tbsp of pizza sauce on top.

5. Cut the edges of the dough every 1 cm, fold the top and bottom edges, then braid the side strips alternately like a plait.

6. Bake for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, sauté butter and garlic in a pan for 1–2 minutes.

7. Remove the Stromboli from the oven and brush with the garlic butter. Return to the oven for another 8–10 minutes until golden brown.

8. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Slice, drizzle with remaining sauce, and garnish with parsley.

Tip: For a simpler version, just roll the dough with filling and cut small slits on top.

Ingredients for Stromboli (Version 2)

• 1 tbsp yeast

• 3–4 cups flour

• 1 cup warm water

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

• 1 egg

• 200 g pizza cheese

• 300 g ham

• 300 g pepperoni

• Red sauce as needed

Making Stromboli (Version 2)

1. Prepare the dough: In a small bowl, mix yeast and salt, then add warm water and let sit 5–10 minutes until frothy.

2. In a larger bowl, combine oil and the yeast mixture. Gradually add flour until the dough is soft and non-sticky. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest in a warm place for 1 hour until it rises.

3. Knead for 10 minutes, divide into two portions, cover, and let rest 15 minutes.

4. Roll each dough into a rectangle, spread tomato sauce, then layer with pepperoni and ham. Sprinkle cheese on top.

5. Carefully roll the dough, sealing the ends to prevent filling from escaping. Place on a greased baking tray lined with parchment paper.

6. Cut diagonal slits on top. Beat the egg with a little water and brush over the dough.

7. Preheat oven to 200°C (392°F) and bake for 30 minutes.

8. Let cool slightly, then slice into 3–4 cm pieces and serve with your favorite sauces.

Stromboli is versatile, fun to make, and perfect for any occasion—whether as finger food, an appetizer, or a main dish. Enjoy!