Tortilla Pinwheels (Greek Style!)

Tortilla pinwheels – the easiest ‘fun’ appetizer!

Tortilla pinwheels are one of my favorite quick party food or appetizer ideas because they look like you’ve spent ages making them… but actually they’ve taken you around 15 minutes! Nothing is cooked – so there’s no need to get out pans or turn on the oven. This makes them perfect for passing around at summer BBQs, but also great for any party when you want to prep the food a little ahead of time.

They’re also very easy to make with just a few simple salad ingredients. All you’ll do is spread tortillas with a simple mix of Greek yogurt and cream cheese. Then sprinkle with finely chopped ‘Greek salad’ ingredients – tomatoes, cucumber, olives, peppers and oregano. Roll up tightly into a log, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, then slice into the cute pinwheels.

Everyone loves these! Don’t have all the ingredients? That’s OK – these are so easy to adapt according to what you have or like. Try pizza flavors for the kids, simple but elegant cream cheese and smoked salmon, ham, cheese and green onions, or whatever you like!

About the ingredients

You’ll find a full list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. But here’s a summary of what you need to know.

• Tortillas: I prefer to use wheat flour tortillas as they hold together better. Grab large tortillas. They’ll be easier to fill, roll and slice. Wraps will work, too.
• Feta cheese: I like to use authentic Greek feta cheese for the best flavor and texture. Try Dodoni, Mt. Vikos or another Greek brand.
• Tomato: You’ll need around 1 medium tomoto per tortilla. Look for ripe, red juicy ones.
• Cucumber: Any kind will work. No need to remove the skin unless you want to.
• Black olives: Chopped Kalamata olives (without the pits) are perfect. For convenience, you could go with jarred ready-chopped black olives, if you prefer.
• Peppers: Green pepper is great for an authentic Greek salad-like vibe. However, you can use any color.
• Dried oregano: Just a sprinkle of this will give your pinwheels that characteristic Greek salad flavor. You can use another dried herb if you don’t have oregano, such as basil or thyme. Fresh herbs such as parsley, dill, mint or coriander would be fantastic if you have them, too.
• Black pepper: I like to add this, but it’s entirely optional.

How to make tortilla pinwheels

These Greek style tortilla pinwheels will take you around 15 minutes to make – at most!

First, mash a few tablespoons of Greek yogurt into feta cheese. Then spread the mixture all over a tortilla. Leave a border around the edge.

Now sprinkle the Greek salad mixture all over, followed by black pepper and dried oregano.

Roll the tortilla up as tightly as you can, then wrap in plastic wrap. Pop into the refrigerator for about half an hour to firm up a bit.

Unwrap the tortilla and use a sharp knife to cut into about 8 even rounds. To serve, arrange them flat on a plate (or stand on their sides and poke through with a cocktail stick – your choice!).

More pinwheel ideas

It’s so easy to adapt this recipe depending on what you have or like! Here are a few more tortilla pinwheel filling ideas (but you’re only limited by your imagination!):

• cream cheese (regular or flavored) with thin slices of smoked salmon
• cream cheese, ham or prosciutto, tasty grated cheese and chutney or sundried tomatoes, if you like
• tuna mayonnaise mixed with a little lemon juice, and thin slices of cucumber
• Caesar dressing, shredded rotisserie chicken, parmesan, crispy lettuce and bacon
• mashed avocado and feta, spinach, tomato (make these just before serving)
• hummus and roasted vegetables
• kid-friendly: pizza sauce, grated mozzarella, salami or pepperoni, dried basil (try baking or air frying after slicing!)
• egg salad, mustard, salad onions, spinach