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Vegetarian Spinach Paneer Puffs served in a tray.
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Spinach Puffs With Paneer | Palak Paneer Puffs

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.
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American, Indian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 10 puffs
Calories 253.45kcal
Author Priya Lakshminarayan

Equipment

Ingredients

To Make Spinach Spread

  • 4 cups chopped spinach
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • salt
  • Half Inch ginger
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2-3 green chillies
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro

To Make Paneer Masala

To Make Garlic Butter

  • ¼ cup butter, melted
  • 3 garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped

Other Ingredients

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.

Notes

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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1per person | Calories: 253.45kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.21g | Protein: 6.43g | Fat: 19.31g | Saturated Fat: 8.43g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.45g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6.71g | Trans Fat: 0.19g | Cholesterol: 26.96mg | Sodium: 186.79mg | Potassium: 108.32mg | Fiber: 1.23g | Sugar: 1.05g | Vitamin A: 1379.85IU | Vitamin C: 5.09mg | Calcium: 155.14mg | Iron: 1.13mg