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Home » Sandwiches » Vegetarian Piadina Sandwich with Variations

Vegetarian Piadina Sandwich with Variations

May 8, 2020 , Updated January 15, 2021 Maria 10 Comments

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An Italian piadina sandwich filled with cheese, tomatoes, and arugula.

This Vegetarian Piadina Sandwich highlights the creamy texture of fresh mozzarella cheese, aromatic arugula & juicy tomatoes. This post also includes sweet and savory variations that can be made with this Italian flatbread. 

A Vegetarian Piadina Sandwich in a wicker basket.

There is no denying that Italian finger foods make some of the best appetizers, snacks and light meals.

What is more impressive is the huge range of possibilities  -arancini, tomato bruschetta, chicken spiedini, chickpea fries, to name but a few.

But what if I told you that some of these Italian appetizers can make for some simple dinner meals as well.

Take for example the piadina (pronounced PEE-UH-DEE-NAH).

As you may know, this Italian flatbread, also referred to as piada, originates from the picturesque Romagna region of Italy, in the Central-North area. 

I’ve already shared how easy they are to make.

Today, I am sharing one of my favorite fillings, as well as a few variations.  You will quickly realize that there are indeed endless possibilities. These can be either sweet or savory fillings. 

Just think of this flatbread as your canvas… and create!

Grilled piadina in a tea towel.

 

Mise en place

The first thing we need to do is make the piadina dough. (Follow the link for a step by step photo tutorial)

Since we are going to stuff the flatbread after it is cooked, but while still warm, it is important to have the fillings ready.

While waiting for the dough to rest for 30 minutes, let’s prepare the fillings.  

Fresh mozzarella cheese: Take out the cheese from the refrigerator, drain, slice and set it aside. You need about 6 ounces to garnish 4 piadina. 

Arugula: Rinse and spin dry about 2 cups to remove all moisture. 

Tomatoes: Rince and dry 2 medium-sized tomatoes. Slice uniformly and set aside. 

Italian flatbread filled with arugula, mozzarella and tomatoes.

How to make this piadina sandwich

Once you cook the piadina, and while they are still warm, evenly layer the arugula, the sliced tomato and fresh mozzarella over half of the flatbread.

Fold the dough in half and serve immediately.

Eat as you would any sandwich. No utensils required.

It truly is the ultimate finger food!

A blistered piadina flatbread.

Favorite piadina fillings

A traditional piadina sandwich consists of cured meats (prosciutto), fresh cheese (squacquerone) and of course arugula. 

Here are some other savory options: 

  • grilled vegetables
  • cooked greens (Swiss chard, rapini, spinach, broccolini, etc… )
  • roasted peppers 
  • ricotta
  • fresh greens (romaine lettuce, micro-greens, etc…)
  • sprouts (definitely non-traditional but adds so much texture)

The following is for those that have a sweet tooth:

  • honey
  • jams or jelly
  • fruit butter such as plum, apple, or pear.
  • almond butter
  • chocolate hazelnut spread

As you can see, you can fill your piadina with just about any combination of food – you are truly only limited by your own imagination.

Tips

  • There is an idle time of 30 minutes while you wait for the dough to rest. 
  • Prepare your favorite fillings while the dough is resting.
  • It is best to fill and fold this flatbread while still warm and pliable. The flatbread hardens as it cools. 

A hand held Italian flatbread with vegetables and alfalfa sprouts.

Recipe source

This popular Italian street food sandwich was not the food of my childhood. 

We did, however, have our share of panini and focaccia sandwiches. These would often be filled with salumi that my dad would make -prosciutto, capicola, salami, to name but a few. 

When I first came across a piadina Romagnola recipe in the magazine La Cucina Italiana, I instantly knew I had to try it. That was over 30 years ago. 

This Italian flatbread, filled with various fillings, was an immediate hit with family and friends. It still is to this day. 

I hope you get a chance to try it!

Enjoy!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

And if you are new here, welcome! You may want to sign up for my weekly e-mail newsletter. You can unsubscribe any time you want.

Ciao for now,

Maria

★★★★★ If you have made this piadina wrap, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

A Vegetarian Piadina Sandwich filled with arugula, tomatoes and mozzarella.

Vegetarian Piadina Sandwich

This Vegetarian Piadina Sandwich highlights the creamy texture of fresh mozzarella cheese, aromatic arugula & juicy tomatoes.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 364kcal
Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

  • 4 Piadina
  • 2 cups arugula about 2 ounces, rinsed and spun dry
  • 6 ounces fresh mozzarella 170 grams, drained and sliced
  • 2 tomatoes sliced

Instructions

  • Once you cook the piadina, and while they are still warm, evenly layer ½ cup of the arugula, 3-4 slices of tomato and 2-3 slices of fresh mozzarella over half of the flatbread.
  • Fold and serve immediately.
Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Notes

  • There is an idle time of 30 minutes while you wait for the dough to rest. 
  • Prepare your favorite fillings while the dough is resting.
  • It is best to fill and fold this flatbread while still warm and pliable. The flatbread hardens as it cools. 
  • 1 serving = an 8-inch piadina
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 301mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @shelovesbiscotti or tag #shelovesbiscotti!

This post was originally published on April 10, 2016, and republished on May 8, 2020 with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing!

 

 

 

Sandwiches, Vegetarian

About Maria

Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

Comments

  1. Christie says

    April 16, 2016 at 07:04

    5 stars
    LOVE THIS! It’s like a sanwich bar! Just make the bread and have the toppings, and people can make whatever sandwich they want. This is an awesome idea!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      April 16, 2016 at 07:17

      The piadina is just awesome Christie! Enjoy 🙂 Appreciate you taking the time to comment.

      Reply
  2. [email protected] says

    April 12, 2016 at 15:18

    Looks delicious. Interesting that I just read another article about this sandwich about 2 weeks ago and here you are with the recipe. Good timing. Thanks. And, the #SundaySupper group sounds like an amazingly talented group.

    Reply
    • Maria says

      April 12, 2016 at 18:41

      We are jumping on the piadina wagon 🙂 Come and join the #SundaySupper group Deb! Just follow the link… would be great for you to join this very supportive community of bloggers. Always appreciate you taking the time to comment 🙂

      Reply
  3. Tammi @ Momma's Meals says

    April 10, 2016 at 19:42

    I love a sandwich full of veggies! Delish!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      April 11, 2016 at 08:41

      These piadina sandwiches are just that! Thanks for dropping by Tammi 🙂

      Reply
  4. Kristen says

    April 10, 2016 at 19:37

    I am in love with this recipe! I can not wait to try it out myself and fill it with a roasted red pepper grain salad. YUM

    Reply
    • Maria says

      April 11, 2016 at 08:36

      Hi Kristen, that sounds like an amazing piadina sandwich! Thanks for dropping by 🙂

      Reply
  5. Nichole says

    April 10, 2016 at 08:12

    Oh yum! I have never heard of piadina, but I love recipes like this, and the simplicity of flavors in this sandwich (plus, I just love sandwiches!)

    Reply
    • Maria says

      April 10, 2016 at 16:09

      Thanks Nichole! They are super easy to make and even easier to eat 🙂

      Reply

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Hello and Welcome to She Loves Biscotti!
I'm Maria: dietitian and full time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth, to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

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