Spinach Paneer Puffs are an Indian fusion appetizer combining palak and paneer in buttery, flaky pastry. These flavorful vegetarian puffs are perfect for parties, festive occasions, or as a tea-time snack that everyone will love. Serve them fresh for a crowd-pleasing treat! You will love this Palak Paneer twist.
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What Are Spinach Puffs
Spinach Puffs are a delightful vegetarian appetizer or snack made with puff pastry sheets. This homemade recipe combines spinach (palak) and paneer (Indian cottage cheese) to create a cheesy, crispy, and flaky baked treat. Unlike other recipes that use cream cheese, ricotta, or feta cheese, this version features paneer, making it uniquely Indian-inspired, eggless, and vegetarian. This crispy Indian spinach appetizer is perfect for parties or tea-time snacks!
In this recipe, blanched palak is pureed with aromatic spices to create a flavorful spread. Crumbled paneer is seasoned with basic spices to make a savory stuffing. The puff pastries can be shaped as desired before baking them to golden perfection. The result? Flaky, crispy puff pastry bites that are gooey, and delicious on the inside.
If you're looking for an easy-to-make, mildly spiced Indian appetizer, this spinach-stuffed puff pastry recipe is the best. They’re a crowd-pleaser and a fantastic addition to any party spread!
My Spinach Puffs
Inspired by two nostalgic favorites—Palak Paneer, a beloved Indian dish showcasing the perfect pairing of spinach and paneer, and the Indian Veggie Puffs from our local bakery that we adored as kids—this vegetarian spinach puff pastry appetizer brings together the best of both worlds.
The flavor profile of spinach and paneer is a beautiful balance: the creamy, mild paneer complements the earthy, savory taste of spinach, creating a rich, comforting flavor with layers of depth. The combination is both satisfying and delicious, making this savory puff pastry recipe a delightful treat.
Resembling the popular Greek Spanakopita (Spinach Feta Puff Pastry) or even Kronk’s Spinach Puffs from The Emperor’s New Groove, these eggless Spinach Pastry Puffs combine tradition, childhood nostalgia, and global inspiration in every flaky, flavorful bite. Try my Indian Spinach Puff Pastry recipe today!
In The Emperor's New Groove, Spinach Puffs are showcased as an irresistible and mouthwatering snack. Kronk, the lovable chef, prepares them by stuffing puff pastry with savory spinach and cheese filling and baking them to golden, crispy perfection, making them a fan-favorite treat in the movie!
Puff Pastry Snacks
When it comes to party food, sweet and savory puff pastry recipes are always a crowd-pleaser! Puff pastry is incredibly versatile, allowing you to create a variety of recipes to suit all tastes and lifestyles. Whether sweet or savory, these flaky delights are delicious, unique, and visually appealing.
I love experimenting with puff pastry, and there’s always a packet stashed in my freezer—perfect for those last-minute snack cravings or party preparations! From classic favorites to creative new ideas, here are some irresistible vegan and vegetarian puff pastry recipes: Puff Pastry Samosa, Matar Kachori Pinwheels, Carrot Halwa Baklava, Karanji Baklava, and Paneer Gujiya Shells.
Why make this
- Quick and Easy: A puff pastry appetizer that’s simple to whip up in no time.
- Basic Ingredients: Uses everyday pantry staples you likely already have.
- Eggless, Vegetarian, and Mildly Spiced: Perfect for those who enjoy flavorful yet light snacks.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prep in advance for stress-free entertaining.
- Nutritious Twist: A delicious way to sneak palak into your diet.
- Party Perfect: Ideal for serving large groups.
- Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser: Flaky, cheesy, and irresistible—everyone will love it!
Ingredients needed 🧾
Butter: Either salted or unsalted butter works perfectly in this vegetarian Spinach Paneer Puffs recipe.
Spinach (Palak): Fresh or frozen spinach can be used. I used baby spinach for this party appetizer. If you're a fan of palak, you'll love recipes like Chana Palak, Lasuni Matar Palak, Keerai, Palak Rice, and Mushroom Spinach Pasta Salad. You can also mix other greens like baby kale, or leek along with palak.
Paneer: Use homemade or store-bought frozen paneer, either full-fat or low-fat. Paneer is readily available in the frozen aisle of Indian grocery stores and can also be found at Costco, Sprouts, and Whole Foods.
Indian cottage cheese can be used to make appetizers and snacks like Spinach Puffs, Naan Pizza, and Chilli Paneer Dry. Here are some restaurant-style vegetarian recipes that you will love - Paneer Pulao, Matar Paneer, Kadai Paneer, Palak Paneer, and Masala Stuffed Peppers at home. You can also make desserts like Rose Sandesh, and Gujiya Shells with it.
Spices: You’ll need basic spices like dried mixed herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes to flavor the dish.
Aromatics: Green chilies, cilantro, garlic, and ginger add a bold punch to the Paneer Spinach Pastry Puffs.
Puff Pastry Sheets: Use homemade puff pastry or store-bought frozen puff pastry sheets like Pepperidge Farm. When buying, ensure the pastry is egg-free for a vegetarian lifestyle and check its freshness. Pre-cut dough squares can save time if you're in a hurry.
Cheese: Mozzarella cheese works well for this Indian Palak Puffs recipe. You can also experiment with a cheese mix. If available, try using Amul cheese for its distinct flavor—it’s a fan favorite!
How to make it 🔪
Before you start making Spinach Cheese Puffs, take the puff pastry sheet out of the freezer and let it thaw on the countertop. Ensure it softens just enough to handle but not so much that it becomes too warm or sticky.
To Make Spinach Spread
- Blanch the Spinach: Boil water in a pot and add a pinch of salt and sugar. Add fresh palak and let it soak in the hot water for 3 minutes.
- Ice Bath: Transfer the palak to a bowl of ice water and let it sit for 2 minutes to stop the cooking process. Note: If using frozen spinach, skip the blanching and ice bath steps. Simply thaw the leaves and gently squeeze out excess moisture.
- Blend the Spread: Lightly squeeze out the water from the palak and transfer it to a blender jar. Add ginger, garlic, cilantro, and green chilies.
- Make a Paste: Blitz the ingredients until smooth, ensuring no water is added. The spinach spread should be thick and spreadable, not runny. Set it aside for assembling the Palak Paneer Puffs.
To Make Paneer Masala
- Prepare Paneer: Grate or crumble the paneer and transfer it to a mixing bowl.
- Add Seasonings: Sprinkle in garlic powder, onion powder, mixed herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Combine: Mix everything together until the spices are evenly distributed.
- Your paneer masala is now ready to be used as the filling for the Spinach Cream Puffs!
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To Make Garlic Butter
- Melt the Butter: Gently melt butter in a microwave or on the stovetop.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the melted butter to a bowl. Add minced garlic and finely chopped cilantro.
- Mix: Stir well to combine all the flavors.
- Your aromatic garlic butter is ready! Use it to brush the spinach-stuffed pastries for a rich, flavorful finish.
To Prepare The Spinach Puffs With Paneer
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Place a thawed sheet of puff pastry on a clean lightly floured surface.
- Add Spinach Spread: Generously smear half of the pastry sheet with the prepared spinach spread.
- Layer the Paneer: Top the spinach spread with the crumbled paneer masala mixture, spreading it evenly.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle-grated mozzarella cheese over the paneer layer for that melty, gooey texture. Now you're ready to shape and bake Kronk's Spinach Puffs!
- Fold the Pastry: Fold the puff pastry sheet over to cover the filling.
- Cut into Strips: Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the pastry into half-inch strips.
- Twist and Roll: Take each strip, twist it, and roll it up into pinwheels. Chef Tip: You can also twist the strips and leave them as is (without shaping them into pinwheels) to make Spinach Puff Pastry Swirls instead. Place the shaped puffs in the freezer while the oven preheats to 400°F.
- Brush with Garlic Butter: Once the oven is ready, brush each puff with the prepared garlic butter for a flavorful finish. Bake the puffs for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Serving suggestions 🍽
Serve these warm Spinach Paneer Puffs as they are or pair them with your favorite dipping sauces like hot sauce, Green Chutney, or tomato ketchup. These cheesy golden puffs are perfect for an evening snack with Chai or can even be served for breakfast. Your family and guests are going to love this spinach appetizer!
These Indian Spinach Puffs are a fantastic appetizer for any holiday! They're ideal for celebrations like Diwali, Holi, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's parties. Easy to make, visually impressive, and a total crowd-pleaser, these puffs are sure to steal the show. The paneer filling adds a delightful, addictive touch to these savory pastries.
This Indian-inspired spinach recipe makes a great finger food that’s perfect for potlucks, weekend parties, holiday gatherings, brunches, game nights, picnics, special occasions, date nights, or any time you feel like celebrating. Flaky and crispy on the outside, and warm and cheesy on the inside, these baked Spinach Paneer Puffs are a fun fusion twist on the classic Palak Paneer.
Top recipe tips 💭
If you're using frozen spinach, skip the blanching step. Simply thaw it and squeeze out any excess moisture before using it. If your paneer is too firm, soak it in warm water for a couple of minutes to soften it, then crumble or grate it. When working with puff pastry, make sure it is cold. Take it out of the fridge just before you're ready to use it. If the pastry becomes too soft after adding the filling, place the tray in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. Cold pastry helps it rise and become crispy and flaky during baking. For an extra touch, you can sprinkle black or white sesame seeds or nigella seeds on top of the puffs before baking to add texture and flavor.
Recipe FAQs 📖
Leftover Palak Paneer Puffs can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also make them ahead of time and refrigerate them. When you're ready to serve, bake them fresh. Unbaked puffs can be frozen for 2-3 months. Simply thaw them on the countertop for 15-20 minutes before baking.
Cooked Spinach Puff Pastry Bites can also be frozen. Store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag, layered between wax paper to prevent sticking. When you're ready to eat, reheat them at 400°F for 7-10 minutes. Note that frozen puffs will take a little longer to reheat.
If you have leftover palak spread, paneer, or garlic butter, store them in the fridge. These ingredients can be reused to make another batch of Spinach Paneer Puffs or incorporated into other dishes like Potato Sandwiches. The garlic butter can also be used to make Garlic Bread or French Loaf Vada Pav.
If your Spinach Puffs have lost their crispiness, you can easily restore it. Simply spread them on a baking sheet and heat them in a preheated oven at 300°F for a few minutes, checking frequently to prevent burning. Alternatively, you can use an air fryer at the same temperature for a quick and crisp result. This will help bring back the golden, flaky texture that makes these puffs so delicious!
To make hot Spinach Puffs vegan, simply swap out a few ingredients. Instead of paneer, you can use crumbled tofu, mashed potatoes, artichoke hearts, meatless crumbles, caramelized onions, cauliflower rice, mushrooms, olives, tempeh, or soya granules for the filling. Replace regular butter with vegan butter or cooking oil, and use unsweetened almond or oat milk instead of whole milk. For the cheese, use vegan mozzarella instead of regular mozzarella. Finally, ensure you're using vegan puff pastry sheets, as many store-bought versions contain dairy. If you're looking for a gluten-free option, use gluten-free pastry sheets. These substitutions will help you create a delicious vegan version of this savory vegetarian snack!
You can easily make Palak Paneer Puffs in the Air Fryer for a quicker, crispy result. Simply place 2 or 4 stuffed puff pastries (depending on the size of your air fryer basket) inside the basket. Set the temperature to 390°F and cook for 9-10 minutes. Make sure to flip them halfway through the cooking time to ensure they cook evenly and get golden and crispy on all sides. Enjoy your crispy, flaky spinach puffs with less oil!
Yes, you can make these Palak Pinwheels in a muffin tray! Start by greasing the muffin tray—avoid using muffin liners as the puff pastry may not become as crispy and browned. Place the puff pastry squares into each muffin cup, then add the palak filling and cheese. Fold the pastry as shown in the recipe, then bake according to the instructions on the puff pastry package. Once baked, carefully remove the pinwheels from the tray and enjoy your perfectly crisp, cheesy spinach pastry pinwheels!
Absolutely! You can get creative with the shape of these Spinach and Paneer Pinwheels. Using the same filling, you can shape them in various ways to suit your preference. You could make Crescent Rolls, Tarts, Pies, or even Spinach Paneer Puff Triangles similar to Puff Pastry Samosa. For a different twist, shape them into regular pinwheels like Matar Kachori Pinwheels, or even turn them into mini quiches like Paneer Gujiya Shells. If you're looking for a different texture, use Phyllo dough to make Phyllo Rolls, like Karanji Baklava. The possibilities are endless!
More Baked Party Snacks
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Recipe 📖
Spinach Puffs With Paneer | Palak Paneer Puffs
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
To Make Spinach Spread
To Make Paneer Masala
- 6 oz paneer, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
To Make Garlic Butter
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 3 garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped
Other Ingredients
- 1 pastry sheet
- 2-3 tablespoon grated mozzarella cheese
- 2-3 tablespoon Amul cheese optional
Instructions
To Make Spinach Spread
- Blanch the Spinach: Boil water in a pot and add a pinch of salt and sugar. Add fresh palak and let it soak in the hot water for 3 minutes.
- Ice Bath: Transfer the palak to a bowl of ice water and let it sit for 2 minutes to stop the cooking process. Note: If using frozen spinach, skip the blanching and ice bath steps. Simply thaw the leaves and gently squeeze out excess moisture.
- Blend the Spread: Lightly squeeze out the water from the palak and transfer it to a blender jar. Add ginger, garlic, cilantro, and green chilies.
- Make a Paste: Blitz the ingredients until smooth, ensuring no water is added. The spinach spread should be thick and spreadable, not runny. Set it aside for assembling the Palak Paneer Puffs.
To Make Paneer Masala
- Prepare Paneer: Grate or crumble the paneer and transfer it to a mixing bowl.
- Add Seasonings: Sprinkle in garlic powder, onion powder, mixed herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Combine: Mix everything together until the spices are evenly distributed.
- Your paneer masala is now ready to be used as the filling for the Spinach Cream Puffs!
To Make Garlic Butter
- Melt the Butter: Gently melt butter in a microwave or on the stovetop.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the melted butter to a bowl. Add minced garlic and finely chopped cilantro.
- Mix: Stir well to combine all the flavors.
- Your aromatic garlic butter is ready! Use it to brush the spinach-stuffed pastries for a rich, flavorful finish.
To Prepare The Spinach Puffs With Paneer
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Place a thawed sheet of puff pastry on a clean working surface.
- Add Spinach Spread: Generously smear half of the pastry sheet with the prepared spinach spread.
- Layer the Paneer: Top the spinach spread with the crumbled paneer masala mixture, spreading it evenly.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle-grated mozzarella cheese over the paneer layer for that melty, gooey texture. Now you're ready to shape and bake Kronk's Spinach Puffs!
- Fold the Pastry: Fold the puff pastry sheet over to cover the filling.
- Cut into Strips: Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, slice the pastry into half-inch strips.
- Twist and Roll: Take each strip, twist it, and roll it up into pinwheels. Chef Tip: You can also twist the strips and leave them as is (without shaping them into pinwheels) to make Spinach Puff Pastry Swirls instead. Place the shaped puffs in the freezer while the oven preheats to 400°F.
- Brush with Garlic Butter: Once the oven is ready, brush each puff with the prepared garlic butter for a flavorful finish. Bake the puffs for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Want to save this recipe?
We'll email this recipe to you, so that you can look at it later!
Anita says
This was such a wonderful New Year appetizer ❤️❤️ Thank you for a lovely recipe!
Priya says
Thank you so much for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Lakshmi says
Hi Priya,
Thanks for sharing your recipes. When I read this spinach and paneer puffs recipe, decided to make and give it to my son who is leaving today to Dunedin for his studies. Turned out well and we all enjoyed it.
Priya says
I am so glad to hear that. Thank you so much. 🙂
Jess says
These sound so amazing! 🙂
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Erica Schmidt says
These look so DELICIOUS! Definitely pinning for later, thanks for sharing! Visiting from Funky Polkadot Giraffe's Too Cute Tuesday link party.
Yum Girl says
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!
Kim @ This Ole Mom says
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
Kristen says
SO yeah, these pretty much look amazing! I think I need to make these for when my college friends come to town
Meeta says
A simply great take on samosas 🙂 I really am loving these.
Georgina Ingham | Culinary Travels says
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.
hetal says
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???
Chef@Cookilicious says
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.
karyl henry says
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
Chef@Cookilicious says
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.
Nikki Frank-Hamilton says
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