We are ready for the holidays, how about you? Whether you are expecting a house full of guests or enjoying time with your loved ones, Paneer Pinwheels will put a smile on everyone’s face. With a perfect balance of flavorful filling covered with a light and flaky crust, this delicious appetizer recipe can be made fresh or ahead of time and reheated. Have a safe and fun filled Thanksgiving from ShowMeTheCurry.com!
Ingredients:
Puff Pastry Sheets – 1 pkg (1 pkg has 2 sheets)
For the filling:
Paneer – 7 oz, crumbled
Oil – 1 tbsp
Turmeric (Haldi) Powder – 1/4 tsp
Red Chili Powder – 1/4 tsp
Cumin (Jeera) Powder – 1/4 tsp
Chat Masala – 1/2 tsp
Amchoor (Dry Mango Powder) – 1/4 tsp
Salt – to taste
Cilantro – to taste, chopped
Method:
1. Pull out a package of Puff Pastry Sheets to defrost on the counter for 40 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, work on the filling. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
3. Crumble the Paneer in a bowl by hand or using a food-processor (pulse button).
4. Add in the dry spices – Turmeric, Red Chili Powder, Cumin Powder, Chat Masala, Dry Mango Powder & Salt.
5. Mix well and add the chopped Cilantro and mix again.
6. Heat Oil in a skillet.
7. Heat the Paneer in the skillet for about a minute or so.
8. Take off the flame and transfer into another bowl so it cools down faster and is easy to handle.
9. Meanwhile, dust a flat surface with some All-Purpose Flour and open the sheet of Puff Pastry on it.
10. Dust a little more Flour on top of the Sheet and roll out the sheet a little.
11. Divide the filling and spread them on the 2 sheets.
12. Roll the sheet gently into a roll as tightly as possible while being gentle.
13. Once you reach the edge, dab a little water and gentle but firmly press the edge in.
14. Roll the roll over and gently pinch the edges together.
15. With a sharp knife, cut rounds and place them on a greased tray.
16. Place them in the oven for about 15 minutes and pull them out once you see them turning brown.
17. Once out of the oven, allow them to cool for about 5 minutes before transferring them.
18. Enjoy warm.
for some reason, i found these pinwheels to be sort of dry.. why did that happen? any ideas?
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
can i use the marinated Paneer as stuffing too for this recipe?
Thank´s for your answer
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I would ask you how i can reheat this pinwheels?
In the Microwave or would it better in the oven?
Thank´s for your answer
Hi, hetal and anuja , can i use riccota cheese instead of panner . thank you
Hi Sam,
Honestly, we have not tried it. The only problem I see is that ricotta cheese has far more moisture than paneer and may make the rolls soggy.
I have made this a few times now and have always gotten compliments. One issue with this is that the puff pastry is a little hard to cut into the wheels..actually not hard..just painfully slow…and also they puff pastry rolls are expensive for a big party say 17-18 ppl.. my mom makes it in India by stuffing the paneer stuffing inside the spring roll sheets you get in the indian grocery stores in NY..and then frying it..its not the same but a similar outcome.. crunchy and tasty.. just another version i guess..hope you guys like it this way!!
Hi Anu,
That is a great idea. We make cocktail samosa with spring roll sheets but have not tried a paneer filling. Thanks for sharing.
Can we make this with potato filling, or will it be too soggy. I have to make them and freeze them before a party.
Hi Paul,
Potato will work fine, but I’m not sure about the freezing part.
hi,
i tried this recipe today coz i was looking for something interesting. but i gotta say, i was so disappointed. they turned out fine but even after increasing the chilli powder , it was so very very bland. most other indian appetizers are so savoury compared to this.
Hi Girls,
I was just wondering if I can get the same taste and texture with the homemade paneer?
Please reply asap as I’m planning to make it soon. Thanks!
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
one question!!!!! when I tried it with spinach…pastry sheets got loose…so what can u suggest me?
Hi Kavya,
Spinach releases a lot of juices so either you can pre-cook it so that most of the moisture is gone or you can use frozen spinach which has been thawed and squeezed well to remove the water.
Thanks for quick reply Hetal ! will try it soon.. 🙂
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
U guys r rocking…I love your all recipes.I tried this paneer pinwheels..it came out awesome.Thanks a lot for sharing.
keep going 🙂
also i forgot, could i add string cheese to the paneer+spinach mixture or would it get soggy?
Thanks,
Hi cpatel,
You can use spinach if you make sure that it does not have a lot moisture left in it. It will make the puff pastry soggy. Regarding string cheese, since most string cheese is mozzarella, it will be very “stringy” when heated and most of it will probably melt out and stick to the pan. It may not be the best choice for this recipe. These pinwheels taste good at room temperature but they are definitely best right out of the oven.
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
I have been following alot of your recipes and most of the time they have come out really good, but abt the pinwheels can i cook fresh spinach and mix it w/ grated paneer, then add dry masalas…would this work?
also if i make this and travel for couple hrs and then serve it would it get soggy?
hi i do nt hv a oven tel me how cn i make it cn i try in micro wave
Hi Suman,
This recipe will not work with a microwave. Sorry.
Hi Hetal N Anuja…..
Where can I find these puff pastry sheets…??? Is it available at walmart…??? I want to make Veg. puff n paneer pinwheels since long but couldnt find puff pastry sheets anywhere…
Hi Avani,
They are available at Walmart. Look in the frozen desserts aisle.
hi this is a wonderful recipie, I was wondering if you can use tofu instead of paneer.
Please and Thankyou
We have not tried it with tofu, but if you use the extra firm variety and make sure that you dry the tofu well, it should work. Of course the taste and texture will be a little different.
Hi,
i got phyllo dough by mistake. can I use that for this recipe?
Also is there a quick (and exciting) party appetizer I can make for kids?
Thanks!
Hi Geetanjali,
Phyllo dough is very different in texture and puff pastry. You also have to prepare it differently. Though you could probably use it, the outcome will be completely different.
For kid appetizers, I always skewer toothpicks with one cube of cheese and one olive or cheese with one chunk of pineapple. They go really fast! Colby Jack cheese is popular with the kids.
Sorry its a spelling mistake..*buy(but). And i observe many of u r recepies r done with baking oven. Please suggest an alternative to those kind of items like in microwave or gas stove.
Hai Hetal, Anuja Iam from india, its very difficult to but such kind of big baking ovens and prepare the items, can u ppl suggest me any alternative.Thanks in advance.
Hi Sowji,
We apologize to our viewers who don’t have an oven at home but some recipes (such as these pinwheels) cannot be made without it. Sorry.
Hi,
I just loved this recipe.But, Just wanted to check why do we have to roll it and then cut into pieces? Can’t it just be made as a puff? OR Is it just to match the appetizer’s name and give a nice look?
SP
Hi SP,
You can use the same filling and pastry sheets to make any shape you like. The pinwheels make nice bite sized appetizers.