If you love a pastrami and Swiss sandwich but can't take the calories these Pastrami Pinwheel Sandwiches will scratch that itch. Classic flavors slimmed down into an easy pinwheel sandwich recipe perfect as an easy appetizer or easy lunch.
Whether you want a skinny option for your next party, a light perfect lunch option this is a great recipe for perfect finger food. Using prepared lunch meat and sliced cheese makes these spiral sandwiches very fast to pull together.
They are a perfect appetizer to wow a crowd too. Slices of pinwheel wraps are so pretty when served (add them to a platter with Turkey Roll Ups) and great for school lunches too.
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What makes this skinny?
- Using lower calorie tortillas instead of traditional sandwich bread. Typically flour tortillas that are marketed as 'low carb tortillas' are lower in calories too. Low carb wraps that are also low calorie could also be used. We used spinach but regular low calorie tortillas or wraps can be used.
- Lower fat cream cheese spread. This both has lower calories and is whipped making it easier to spread more thinly onto the tortillas.
- Light 1000 Island dressing. This adds some great flavor to the cream cheese spread. Calorie savings: light dressing is around 60 calories per 2 tablespoons and regular 1000 Island dressing is 111 calories for the same amount.
- Using ultra thin deli pastrami. Using ultra thin sliced pastrami saves lots of calories but delivers classic pastrami flavor. Calorie savings: ultra thin is around 12 calories per slice and regular sliced pastrami is 41 calories per slice.
- Using ultra thin baby Swiss cheese slices. As with the pastrami ultra thin slices give the flavor without all the calories. Calorie savings: one slice of ultra thin baby swiss cheese is 35 calories and one slice of regular swiss cheese is 110 calories.
- Baby spinach! This adds a hearty serving of leafy greens for more volume at a low calorie amount.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
⅓ Less Fat Cream Cheese Spread. Use the ⅓ fat reduced cream cheese spread in a tub for easier spreading onto the tortillas.
8-inch lower calorie flour tortillas. Use large tortillas (8-inch or 9-inch diameter). We used Mission Carb Balance Spinach Herb tortillas which are low in calories, high in dietary fiber, have great flavor and we love that they are green. Only 60 calories per tortilla (8-inch tortilla).
Ultra thin deli sliced Pastrami. This really shaves off the calories. Any brand can be used; we used Hillshire Farms.
Ultra thin baby Swiss cheese slices. Using ultra thin cheese is a great calorie savings. We used Sargento Baby Swiss.
Light 1000 Island dressing. Choose a low calorie option. We used Wishbone brand but there are multiple brand that make this type of lower calorie dressing.
How to make Pastrami Pinwheel Sandwiches
STEP 1. Make the spread
In a small bowl combine cream cheese spread and light Thousand Island dressing (photos 1-2).
STEP 2. Assemble the pinwheel sandwiches
Spread one fourth of the cream cheese mixture onto the spinach tortilla (photo 3). Spread it close to the edge but leave a space so the ingredients don't squish out when rolled.
From left to right, layer 2 slices of pastrami, 2 slices of Swiss cheese, and ½ cup of baby spinach leaves onto the tortilla (photos 4-5). Starting at the pastrami side, tightly roll up the tortilla (photo 6-7).
Be sure to tuck in the baby spinach toward the end of the roll.
Slice the roll with seam side down into pinwheel sandwiches (refer to recipe card notes below). NOTE: you can cut off the ends of the wrap for a straight edge if desired (photo 8). Repeat the above steps for each pinwheel.
How to make it skinnier
Leave out the cheese. We've used ultra thin baby Swiss which is only 35 calories per slice but leaving out the cheese all together reduces the full recipe by 280 calories.
Choose lower calorie the light 1000 Island dressing. We found in our research that the calories can vary from 0 calories per serving to 80 calories. Walden Farms makes a calorie-free light 1000 Island dressing.
Try fat free cream cheese. Fat Free Cream Cheese is half the calories of ⅓ reduced fat cream cheese. Fat free is 30 calories per 2 tablespoons versus ⅓ reduced fat which is 60 calories per 2 tablespoons. Fat free cream cheese tastes the same but is not as creamy as well as other ingredients are added to make it spreadable.
How to store
Store in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Best served up to 4 hours after making (if making for a party).
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Recipe
Pastrami Pinwheel Sandwiches
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup ⅓ reduced fat cream cheese spread
- 2 tablespoons light thousand island dressing
- 4 8-inch low calorie flour tortillas we used Mission Carb Balance Spinach Herb tortillas
- 8 slices ultra thin deli pastrami see notes
- 8 slices ultra thin Swiss cheese slices see notes
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the light cream cheese and 1000 Island dressing. Stir or whisk to combine.⅔ cup ⅓ reduced fat cream cheese spread, 2 tablespoons light thousand island dressing
- Using a butter knife (non-sharp knife) or pliable spatula, spread ¼ of the cream cheese thinly onto one tortilla, spreading to almost 1-inch from the edge. Repeat with the other 3 tortillas.4 8-inch low calorie flour tortillas
- From left to right, layer 2 slices of pastrami, 2 slices of Swiss cheese, and ½ cup of baby spinach onto the tortilla leaving a 1-inch border between the filling ingredients and the edge of the tortilla (so the filling doesn't squeeze out). Repeat with the other three tortillas.8 slices ultra thin deli pastrami, 8 slices ultra thin Swiss cheese slices, 2 cups baby spinach leaves
- Gently and firmly roll up the tortilla starting at the pastrami side. Be sure to tuck in the baby spinach toward the end of the roll. Cut the rolled pinwheel crosswise into ¾-inch thick pinwheels for appetizers or 1 ½-inch lengths for pinwheel sandwiches.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for later use.
Notes
- Swiss cheese slices: we used Sargento Baby Swiss Natural Cheese Ultra thin for 35 calories per slice. Another option is Sargento Swiss Natural Cheese Ultra thin which is 40 calories per slice.
- Pastrami slices: choose an 'ultra thin' deli sliced pastrami. Hillshire Farms Ultra Thin Pastrami is 70 calories per 2 ounce serving. One serving equals 6 slices.
- Spinach wraps: we used Mission brand Carb Balance Spinach Herb wraps.
- Light 1000 Island dressing: any light 1000 island dressing can be used. We used Wishbone Light 1000 Island which is 60 calories per 2 tablespoon serving.
- 1 serving (for nutritional facts and WW points matching) = ½ a tortilla rolled up
- For appetizers: slice ¾-inch thick for approximately 10 slices (5 slices/serving)
- For pinwheel sandwiches: slice into 1 ½-inch slices for 5-6 slices (3 slices/serving)
Sue says
What a delicious pinwheel sandwich recipe! Thanks for sharing.
Gen says
We had friends over this weekend and I made these to serve as appetizers. These pinwheels are perfect and I can't wait to make them agsin. They were delicious and filling.
Ned says
These were awesome to make for our family gathering. Everyone loved them. Thank you!
April says
OMG! These are so good. Made them for lunch yesterday. The 1000island dressing with the cream cheese really is genius. They were very filling and tasted so good!
Whitney says
I love that you mixed the cream cheese with the 1000 island dressing, that really gives them a punch of flavor and helps roll them up tighter! Thanks for sharing!