Italian Piadina with Mortadella and Stracciatella
Imported from Instagram
20 minEasy2 servings

Italian Piadina with Mortadella and Stracciatella

A quick, yeast-free Italian flatbread from Emilia-Romagna, filled with creamy stracciatella, grilled mortadella, and a touch of honey mustard. It's the perfect sandwich when you're out of bread.

Mise turned a cooking video on Instagram into this written step-by-step recipe — 11 ingredients, 8 steps, 20 min, with a generated photo for every step.

Time20min
LevelEasy
Servings2
Method 8 steps
01

In a bowl, combine the flour, water, salt, and a splash of olive oil (or lard). Knead everything together until a smooth dough forms.

02

Let the dough rest for a few minutes.

03

Divide the dough into portions and roll each portion out into a thin circle with a rolling pin.

04

Heat a griddle or a large pan over medium-high heat with a little olive oil. Cook the piadina for a couple of minutes on each side until golden spots appear.

05

Grill the thick slices of mortadella (on skewers if preferred) until they are nicely browned and crispy.

06

Spread a generous layer of stracciatella cheese onto the cooked piadina. Top with the warm grilled mortadella.

07

Drizzle with honey mustard sauce and scatter chopped pistachios over the meat.

08

Finish the sandwich with fresh basil leaves, a large handful of arugula, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Fold in half and enjoy immediately.

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Notes

The piadina is a traditional unleavened flatbread from the Emilia-Romagna region that offers a dense, chewy texture distinct from fermented breads. This version relies on the immediate reaction between flour and water to create a pliable base that functions as a structural wrap for rich, fatty fillings. Using olive oil instead of traditional lard yields a cleaner finish, allowing the aromatic qualities of the cured meat and fresh herbs to dominate the palate. The dough requires minimal manipulation, making it an efficient solution for a quick lunch that feels substantial without being heavy.

Success depends on the balance of temperature and texture. Grilling the thick-cut mortadella creates a caramelised exterior that contrasts with the cold, creamy stracciatella cheese. The heat from the meat slightly softens the cheese, while the acidic balsamic glaze and peppery arugula cut through the fat. Expect a sandwich that is simultaneously warm and cool, with a satisfying crunch from the toasted nuts and a sweet, sharp profile from the honey mustard. This dish is best served immediately while the flatbread remains flexible and the greens stay crisp.

Before you start

  • When kneading the dough in step one, stop as soon as it feels smooth and elastic. Overworking the flour will develop too much gluten, making the flatbread tough.
  • During step three, roll the dough as thin as possible without tearing. If the piadina is too thick, it will remain doughy in the center after cooking.
  • The pan in step four must be hot enough to char the surface quickly. If the heat is too low, the dough dries out and becomes a cracker.
  • Monitor the mortadella closely in step five. Because of the high fat content, it transitions from browned to burnt very quickly once the edges begin to curl.

Swaps that work

  • Replace one tablespoon of honey mustard with one tablespoon of Dijon mustard mixed with a teaspoon of honey for a sharper, less sweet profile.
  • Substitute 0.25 cup of stracciatella with 0.25 cup of torn fresh burrata. The texture will be slightly thicker but provide the same creamy mouthfeel.
  • Exchange one tablespoon of pistachios for one tablespoon of toasted pine nuts. This maintains the necessary crunch while offering a milder, buttery flavour to the sandwich.

Keeping it

The assembled sandwich does not store well because the stracciatella and balsamic glaze will make the flatbread soggy within an hour. For the best experience, eat it immediately after assembly. You can store the cooked, unfilled piadina in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. To reheat the bread, place it in a dry pan over medium heat for thirty seconds per side until it regains its flexibility before adding the fresh fillings.

Questions

Why did my flatbread come out dense and hard to chew?

This usually happens if the dough did not rest long enough or the pan temperature was too low. Resting allows the flour to fully hydrate and the gluten to relax. If the pan is not hot, the bread bakes slowly and loses moisture, resulting in a hard, cracker-like texture.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and store it in the refrigerator for up to twenty-four hours. Wrap it tightly in plastic to prevent a skin from forming. Bring the dough to room temperature before rolling it out to ensure it is pliable enough to reach the desired thickness.

Is it necessary to use olive oil in the pan?

A light coating of olive oil helps with heat distribution and browning, but you can use a high-quality non-stick pan without oil if preferred. The dough already contains fat, which helps prevent sticking, but the extra oil in the pan contributes to the traditional golden, spotted appearance.

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