If you’re planning a party or gathering and want to impress your guests with a delicious appetizer, you’re in luck! Say hello to this Savory Mediterranean Crescent Ring that’s a total crowd-pleaser.
With only five WW points per serving and 16 servings in total, this dish is not only tasty but also guilt-free. If you’ve never tried making a Pillsbury Crescent ring before, don’t worry; it’s super easy and will make you look like a pro in the kitchen. Trust me, your guests will be amazed at the unbeatable flavor and presentation of this dish.
With crunchy pine nuts, juicy grape tomatoes, earthy spinach, and two different types of cheese, what’s not to love? The recipe also calls for garlic and fresh herbs to highlight the flavors of the other ingredients, creating such a succulent flavor. This stuffed Crescent ring is naturally vegetarian, but you can easily throw in some cooked shredded chicken or other meat if you want it to be heartier.
One of the best things about this recipe is that it comes with a built-in dip for the crescent roll appetizer. After making the ring, you will have some extra filling left over, which can be mixed with Greek yogurt to create a light and tangy dip that perfectly complements the buttery, flaky crescent rolls. You can also mix the leftover filling with hummus, reduced-fat sour cream, or even whipped cream cheese if you wish! It is customizable.
So, there is no need to go out of your way to make a whole separate dip because you can easily transform the filling into something entirely different!
You will be amazed by this Weight Watchers-friendly appetizer. Let’s take a look at how to make it!
Why You Should Try This Recipe
- Perfect for parties: This crescent ring appetizer has such a beautiful presentation. Everyone will be blown away just by its appearance. Don’t worry, though. It is super easy to assemble! You can refer to the pictures for help.
- It’s nutritious: The filling for this appetizer is packed with whole, fresh ingredients. It is almost like a Mediterranean salad inside of the ring! You’ll love its fresh taste and how it is only 150 calories and 5 WW points per serving when paired with the flaky crescent dough.
- No stovetop cooking required: You don’t need to cook the filling on the stovetop beforehand, which is super convenient. All you need to do is mix all the ingredients in a bowl before piling it onto the Crescent dough and it perfectly bakes in the oven.
- Serving Size: 72g (1 crescent roll slice)
- Number of Servings: 16
- Time to Cook: 20- 25 min
- WW Points Per Recipe: 5
Ingredients Needed For This Savory Mediterranean Crescent Ring
- 2 cups packed fresh spinach, chopped
- ⅓ cup kalamata olives, sliced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced
- 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
- 4 oz (net weight) reduced-fat crumbled feta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- ¼ large red onion, chopped finely
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped finely
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped finely
- ⅓ cup reduced-fat low moisture shredded mozzarella
- salt to taste
- 0% Greek yogurt to taste
- 2 cans reduced-fat Crescent rolls (Pillsbury crescent rolls or another brand with an 8 oz can)
How To Make a WW-Friendly Mediterranean Crescent Ring
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Chop all the necessary ingredients and combine everything (minus the Greek yogurt and dough) in a large bowl until thoroughly mixed. Note: If you’re adding salt and want to taste-test, do so before adding the egg.
2. Lay the Crescent roll triangles in a circular pattern on a large greased sheet pan or pizza tray. Slightly overlap the triangles, with their points facing outward, to create a sun-like pattern.
3. Pile the filling around the circle, ensuring that there is enough room for the triangles to fold back over onto the other end. The amount of remaining filling will depend on the size of the circle and how high you pile the filling. Transfer any extra filling to a baking dish and cover it with foil.
4. Fold the ends of the triangles to form the Crescent wreath, gently pressing them to ensure they don’t lift while baking.
5. Bake the Crescent ring and the separate extra filling at 375°F for 20-25 minutes. After baking, allow the extra filling to cool, then mix in Greek yogurt, sour cream, or hummus until it becomes the consistency of a dip for the Crescent rolls. Enjoy!
Variations and Substitutions
- Crescent ring with chicken: Consider adding cooked shredded chicken to the filling. This would be a great way to use up any leftover rotisserie chicken!
- Crescent ring with sausage: You can also throw some cooked spicy sausage in the filling, too. Ensure it is crumbled or sliced very small so that the Crescent dough can easily fold over it.
- Make it vegan: To make it vegan, omit the egg, feta cheese, and mozzarella cheese. The egg acts as a binder so that the filling doesn’t spill out while it bakes. You can always use an egg replacement instead. You can mix vegan cream cheese or hummus for the dip with the extra filling.
- Dough: You might wonder, “What is a substitute for Crescent roll dough? Can I use pizza dough or puff pastry instead?” You can try it, as these dough types will work if they’re cut into triangles and formed into a ring. But I suggest sticking to the crescent dough since it is reduced-fat and low-point.
- Cheese: You can always swap the cheese for parmesan, ricotta, or goat cheese. Keep in mind that this will affect the points amount.
- Save a point: If you remove the feta cheese and olives, this savory crescent appetizer can be 4 WW points instead of 5 per slice.
Tips and Tricks for Making A Perfect Mediterranean Crescent Ring
- For a shiny golden crust, I suggest brushing the Crescent dough with egg wash before baking it.
- You can refrigerate any leftovers and enjoy them for about four days. Make sure to tightly wrap them so they don’t dry out. I don’t suggest freezing them since they contain mozzarella and feta; its texture might be funky when reheated. If using Greek yogurt for the dip, it is best enjoyed the same day.
- This Mediterranean crescent bread is best served warm or at room temperature (for no more than 2 hours), while yogurt dip should remain cold. If you’re hosting a party, you can keep the dip bowl on a small ice bath.
- During baking, check on the crescent ring after 20 minutes of cooking time. It might look golden on top, but carefully lift and check the bottom. Also, examine how hot the filling is. Remember that this recipe has eggs, so you want it to be thoroughly hot.
Related Recipes
Spinach Artichoke Crescent Rolls
Savory Mediterranean Crescent Ring
Ingredients
- 2 cups (packed) fresh spinach, chopped
- ⅓ cup kalamata olives, sliced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced
- 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
- 4 net weight oz reduced-fat crumbled feta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- ¼ large red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup reduced-fat low moisture shredded mozzarella
- salt, to taste
- 0% Greek yogurt, to taste
- 2 cans reduced-fat crescent rolls
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Chop all the necessary ingredients and combine everything (minus the Greek yogurt and dough) in a large bowl until thoroughly mixed. Note: If you’re adding salt and want to taste-test, do so before adding the egg.
- Lay out the Crescent roll triangles in a circular pattern on a large sheet pan or pizza tray. Slightly overlap the triangles, with their points facing outward, to create a sun-like pattern.
- Pile the filling around the circle, ensuring that there is enough room for the triangles to fold back over onto the other end. The amount of remaining filling will depend on the size of the circle and how high you pile the filling. Transfer any extra filling to a baking dish and cover it with foil.
- Fold the ends of the triangles to form the Crescent wreath, gently pressing them to ensure they don't lift while baking.
- Bake the Crescent ring and the extra filling at 375°F for 20-25 minutes. After baking, allow the extra filling to cool, then mix in Greek yogurt, sour cream, or hummus until it becomes the consistency of a dip for the Crescent rolls. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
