Party Wraps
Fill, Roll, and Slice a Tortilla for a Fun and Easy Party Treat
Quick, easy, and amazingly versatile, the flour tortilla makes for a tasty and trusty party favorite.
Like a favorite frock or silky shawl, a flour tortilla—especially one that is brightly colored—adds a fancy flair to a party spread. Choose from a variety of flavors and colors, such as green spinach or red tomato—and then go to town at the market and in the pantry for ideas on how to fill them. Roll everything up, cut into slices, and voila!: bite size sandwiches that are as pretty to look at as they are delicious and filling to eat.
The party wrap can be filled with just about anything. But there are some guidelines. What make the wrap special are its layers of textures and flavors. A good party wrap can have four or five layers, easy. The trick is that none of the layers is too thick. De-ribbed romaine lettuce leaves make a good base layer. Also, because the wrap will be cut into finger-food sized pieces, each layer should be relatively neat. Ingredients that are too wet or messy or crumbly will glop and be unpleasant when eaten.
Because these are for a party, they should be appealing to look at, so choose ingredients in a range of colors. Carrots, red and yellow peppers, cucumbers, and sprouts add vibrancy and crunch. Cut vegetables into thin strips or slices. Use a mandolin or a grating tool. Likewise, dips and spreads can add beautiful color as well as rich flavor. Some good examples are pesto, roasted red pepper dip, white bean dip, olive tapenade, even stone ground mustard.
Don’t be afraid to add surprises to your party wraps. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds or chopped nuts on top of one of the middle layers. Thinly sliced cornichons or olives are rustic French fantastic additions. Treat your guests, and make a few different kinds.
Some Recommended Filling Suggestions:
- Mayonnaise, thinly sliced ham, mortadella, and proscuitto, and provolone cheese. Top with shredded lettuce and roasted red peppers, sliced thin.
- Pesto with strips of zucchini, carrots, red onion, cucumbers, and sprouts. Sprinkle with finely chopped almonds or walnuts.
- Dijon mustard, sliced ham, swiss cheese, and avocado.
- Humus, sprouts, cucumbers, sliced kalamata olives.
Technique:
Beyond choosing interesting and fun ingredients, the key to making a good party wrap is the technique. Follow these steps:
- Lay tortilla flat on a work surface.
- Spread dips and spreads evenly and thinly over the entire surface of the tortilla, leaving a ½-inch border all the way around. Do not use too much spread.
- Envision the tortilla in thirds; the middle third will be the layer of fillings. If fillings are spread all the way to the ends, the tortilla will be hard to roll and the final product will be messy.
- Cut the center rib out of romaine lettuce leaves, and place leaves flat along the center third.
- Layer ingredients, with flattest ingredients, such as sliced meats and cheeses, down first.
- Beginning on one end, roll the tortilla, tucking in the ingredients as you go. Roll as tightly as you can.
- When you reach the other end, gently but firmly squeeze the roll evenly, from the middle out to the ends.
- You may need to cut off each end of the roll, as there will likely not be enough fillings in these pieces to hold together
- Cut the roll into 1½-inch slices.
- Fan the slices on serving platter; alternating slices makes a fun presentation.
Pair Party Wraps with these other fun and tasty party foods:
