I do not wish to be the frog in the well. I want to jump out and see the world. I do not wish to live in my own well and refrain from exploring this gorgeous globe. Don't you too? I mean, there is so much goodness around that you want to absorb it all in as much as you can. While this holds true to travel, it also translates to cooking as well. More since I have become a food blogger, I have experimented, pushed my boundaries, tried ingredients I have never even heard of and food photography is something which intrigues me everyday. Now when I look back, as conventional homemakers, we should not limit ourselves to the regular food. There are so many wonderful recipes out there to try. We must push ourselves, create, uncover newer dishes. We must never be content with just being a frog in the well!
If I would do a survey on when do people feel hungry the most, I am sure the maximum response would be - afternoons! I am also part of the majority. Most of the afternoons, I am rummaging the kitchen finding something to eat. Some days I am bored to cook so I just have a bowl of corn flakes
or a Fruit Popsicle. However on some days, I am in mood to experiment or try a new snack to munch on. Here are some of my afternoon endeavors here - Lemon Vermicelli Croquettes, Dill ke Pakode, Rawa Paniyaram in Appe Pan, Moong Dal snack which have also gained popularity among my readers over time. I am always on the search for yummy snacks to fill my tummy. I said that to totally rhyme. 😉
First we need to make the filling sauce. In a pan
, Melt butter
. Add flour
and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture becomes pale golden with a slightly nutty aroma. Now pour warm milk
gradually, stirring constantly with wooden spoon
and whisk until smooth. Cook this mixture, stirring constantly along the bottom of the pan. Cook till the sauce thickens. This takes about 10 mins on med to low flame. Once the sauce is thick enough, add the chopped spinach and give it a good mix.
Next add in the crumbled paneer and the seasonings. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. The sauce finally should be thick enough to spread and not drip.
Pre-heat your oven to 400°F(200°C). Then, thaw the frozen puff pastry sheets
. Cut the sheets into 5-inch squares and place them on a cookie tray 
with parchment paper
. Add a spoonful of the spinach - paneer mixture in the center. Cut a mozzarella stick half-inch size and place each on top of the mixture. Fold the sheet from all sides. You need not close it completely. Refer pic below.
Brush some egg
+ water mixture over all of them. Sprinkle Parmesan
cheese over it. Place them in the oven and bake for 20 mins. Look at them rising up. Love this sight!
Spinach & Paneer Puffs are ready. Enjoy them as is or with any hot sauce
. You need not use all the pastry sheets in one go for this recipe. Save some for Avocado & Cream Cheese Pinwheel Puffs. They turn out great as well.
Spinach & Paneer Puffs
Ingredients
- 3 pastry sheets
- 1 cup crumbled paneer
- 1 '2 cup chopped spinach
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp maida/all purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp of dried parsley basil and thyme each
- 1 tbsp red pepper flakes/pepper powder
- Salt
- 1 egg + 2 tbsp water
- 2 mozzarella sticks cut in half-inch
- Flour for dusting if required
Instructions
- First we need to make the filling sauce. In a pan, Melt butter. Add flour and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture becomes pale golden with a slightly nutty aroma. Now pour warm milk gradually, stirring constantly with wooden spoon and whisk until smooth. Cook this mixture, stirring constantly along the bottom of the pan. Cook till the sauce thickens. This takes about 10 mins on med to low flame. Once the sauce is thick enough, add the chopped spinach and give it a good mix.
- Next add in the crumbled paneer and the seasonings. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. The sauce finally should be thick enough to spread and not drip.
- Pre-heat your oven to 400°F(200°C). Then, thaw the frozen puff pastry sheets. Cut the sheets into 5-inch squares and place them on a cookie tray with parchment paper. Add a spoonful of the spinach - paneer mixture in the center. Cut a mozzarella stick half-inch size and place each on top of the mixture. Fold the sheet from all sides. You need not close it completely.
- Brush some egg + water mixture over all of them. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over it. Place them in the oven and bake for 20 mins.
- Spinach & Paneer Puffs are ready. Enjoy them as is or with any hot sauce.
Notes
You can make the pastry sheets at home as well.
Try a variation with any other filling.
Snacks like these really make a homechef's day. Like a small child, I was excited as they were getting ready in the oven. I kept checking on it as I was eager to get it out. Baking surely is a fun way of cooking. Do everything you need to do and then wait (not) patiently for the oven to do its job. Its fun!
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For this recipe I recommend
These sound so amazing! 🙂
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
These look so DELICIOUS! Definitely pinning for later, thanks for sharing! Visiting from Funky Polkadot Giraffe's Too Cute Tuesday link party.
Welcome to Yum Goggle! we are following you on all your social media platforms and hope you follow us back. we will try our best to tag you each time we promote your posts. Kelli at YG!
Wow! Your appetizer looks delicious! I need to try making it. Thank you for sharing with us at the Talented Tuesday Link Party!
Have a lovely rest of the week, Kim
SO yeah, these pretty much look amazing! I think I need to make these for when my college friends come to town
A simply great take on samosas 🙂 I really am loving these.
What a great idea to use paneer. I would most often use feta in a dish like this but I bet the paneer works perfectly.
Hiii... the receipe looks divine...am surely trying this... you mentioned we could make the pastry sheets at home... do u have a receipe for the same???
Hi Hetal, thank you so much. I have never tried to make the pastry sheet at home yet..I get the frozen sheets. Will surely pass on the recipe if I find the perfect one.
This is probably such a dumb question, but what is Paneer? I've never heard of it. This dish looks gorgeous though, and like something that would be right up my alley
Hey Karyl, there is no such thing as silly question.. 🙂 Paneer is a type of curd cheese used in Indian, Iranian, and Afghan cooking. Its like tofu only tastier. Do try it once. Its available in Indian stores.
This looks so delicious. I'm sitting here in the car, way past my dinner time, and now I have a craving for these little pastries. The way that the cheese and the spinach loses right out of the top of the pastry! My stomach is growling. I have added this to Pinterest and you Yummly so that I can make it at home. Thank you so much for not remaining a frog in the well. We are all benefiting from that
Mmm, I love paneer! These look DIVINE! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I loveeee this recipe and this looks so scrumptious! And yeah, we need to push ourselves to be better.
These sound amazing!
Southern Soul
These look so incredible! Always push the boundaries and challenge yourself- it's what makes life interesting 🙂
xx,
Kristie
Yum! Looks delicious!!! CAn't wait to try!
Yummy, this looks so good. I'll have to give this one a try.
This looks deliscious. Very detailed, and fantastic pictures.
These look fabulous! I'll make them this weekend. Thank you for taking the time to write an interesting post.
Oh I just love the flavors here. I'm huge paneer fan and think this is a perfect appetizer for a party.
These look amazing and sound so good! I am pinning this recipe so we can try it soon! YUM!
This would be a great appetizer... looks really good!!
These are so beautiful! I'm looking for a couple fancy appetizers for an anniversary party I'm throwing my best friend and these are perfect
What an awesome recipe! Looks so yummy 🙂 Will have to definately give it a try! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
I am serious - this is such a cool recipe. My wife and I love paneer. Got to get this one on the to do list.
What a great way to enjoy paneer. Do they freeze well?
yes you get frozen paneer.. 🙂
What a cool recipe! I had no idea you could use puff pastry - just delicious, cheesy, veggie and wonderful!