This Savory Italian Roll Up uses the same concept as cinnamon rolls. In fact, I use the exact same bread dough recipe. It also has the same roll-out-the-dough, spread-on-a-filling, roll-up-the-dough method as cinnamon rolls. But it isn’t cut into individual rolls, so the presentation is an impressive loaf with a surprising inside full of pizza-like flavors.
When reading about an Italian schnitzel in a magazine, I didn’t have all of the required ingredients. So I improvised, and then I made it again, and it seems to be perfected. Not wanting to scare anyone off with the specifics, I offer complete freedom to do your own thing. Favorite dough recipe? Use it! (Although maybe my favorite dough recipe will become yours if you try it.) If you’re missing some of the filling ingredients, don’t worry about it – just put in what sounds best to you.
Once, I included layered fresh spinach leaves, but another time I added chopped spinach to the vegetables I sauteed. With or without cheese. Omit any vegetables that your family hates. Add in some meat. Turn it into a main dish or a side.
Start Your Savory Italian Roll Up By Preparing Your Fillings
- 1 small onion
- 1/4 red pepper
- 1/4 yellow pepper
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 c spinach leaves
- 10 mushrooms
- 1 c mozzarella cheese
- 1 c cooked sausage or a few slices of cooked bacon
- 1 1/2 c pizza sauce, homemade or prepared
Saute the vegetables, all chopped small, until the liquid cooks off. Season with salt and pepper. Add in your meat crumbles, if desired.
Bread Dough
Do you have that favorite go-to recipe that just seems to be the one? I flip past all of my other bread dough recipes, and this is the one I use all the time.
This recipe can make Cinnamon Rolls, Runzas, dinner rolls, Precious Bread, pretzels or braids, and about anything else that requires a basic, soft, slightly sweet bread. Except when I make a loaf of bread, I usually turn to Molasses Bread for its amazing texture and flavor, just for something different.
When you stir up this dough, things go quickly. It rises in just 20 minutes, and then it’s ready to be rolled out, filled, rolled up, and set to rest another 20 minutes.
60-Minute Bread Dough
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup margarine
- 4 cups flour divided
- 1 T sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 T yeast
Instructions
- Combine the milk, water, and margarine in a sauce pan and heat to 120°-130°. In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- Add warm liquid mixture to dry ingredients and stir well, adding remaining 1 cup of flour (and additional if necessary), stirring until dough all clings into a ball. Grease ball and cover, allowing to rise for 20 minutes.
Rolling Out Your Roll Up
Divide the risen dough into two portions and roll out one at a time, layering on top of each square:
• 3/4 cup pizza sauce
• sauteed vegetables
• 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• Other good fillings could include cooked sausage, pepperoni, sliced black olives
Roll up like a cinnamon roll, sealing the ends and the seam.
Brush with an egg wash and bake at 425° for 20 minutes.
Savory Italian Roll Up
Ingredients
- 1 small onion
- 1/4 red pepper
- 1/4 yellow pepper
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 c spinach leaves
- 10 mushrooms
- 1 t salt
- 1/2 t pepper
- 1 t basil
- 1 c mozzarella cheese
- 1 c cooked sausage or a few slices of cooked bacon
- 1 1/2 c pizza sauce homemade or prepared
Instructions
- Chop and saute vegetables until the liquid cooks off. Add seasonings. Add in your meat crumbles, if desired.
- Prepare bread dough according to recipe above
- While the dough rises, wash dishes and prepare a clean work space for rolling out the dough.
- Divide the raised dough in half and roll out each portion into a rectangle, roughly 12"x15"
- Spread half of the pizza sauce onto each rolled-out piece of dough. Spread other fillings on, possibly customizing with special flavors for different family members. Top with mozzarella cheese, if desired
- Roll up and pinch seam closed. Brush with egg wash and allow to rise again for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 425°
- Bake 20-25 minutes
This looks good. I'll have to make it soon!
Next time I make it, I'll add more fillings — more cheese, maybe some sausage or pepperoni, and even a little more spinach.