Samosa Appetizer Pinwheels

Name: Samosa Appetizer Pinwheels
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 puff pastry sheets; 1 tbsp olive oil (or use oil of your choice); 2 tsp coriander seeds; 2 tsp cumin seeds; 1-2 green chilies (chopped, optional); 3 medium potatoes, boiled (1.5 - 2 lbs (use russet potato)); 1/2 cup green peas frozen (microwaved for 1 minute with water and drained); ½ cup shredded pepperjack cheese; ½ tsp turmeric powder; 1 tbsp coriander powder; 1 tsp chaat masala (plus more for garnish); 1 tsp garam masala; 1 tsp toasted cumin powder; 1/2 tsp red chili powder; salt to taste (around 1 to 2 teaspoon); 1 tbsp flour (plus more for dusting the counter); 5-6 sprigs cilantro (chopped); Ketchup (to serve); mint cilantro chutney (to serve, optional); sweet tamarind chutney (to serve, optional)

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These savory Samosa Appetizer Pinwheels are made with puff pastry and a delectable filling of seasoned potatoes and peas that is elevated by deeply flavorful, warm Indian spices. This recipe is super easy and is sure to delight your guests!

Savory Appetizer Pinwheels on a white ceramic tray sprinkled with cilantro and served with ketchup in a bowl

I love a good, crispy samosa and would not pass a chance to savor one topped with some mint cilantro chutney and tamarind chutney. The only thing stopping me from doing this is that a traditional samosa has a potato and peas filling tucked inside a savory dough and deep fried.

Deep fried....that takes my whole being's effort to do a recipe that needs deep frying anything. I deep fry when I need to like for these Onion Pakodas but try to avoid it as much as possible.

These savory appetizer pinwheels are inspired by my Aloo Patties recipe and the potato masala action is also similar to the one going on in this Aloo Tikki Sliders Recipe. These fall into the easy, finger food recipe category that is sure to impress your family and friends alike.The classic samosa filling but slathered on to a store bought puff pastry sheet and rolled and then sliced and baked into a perfectly crispy and delectable party snack.

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Recipe Ingredients
Recipe Variations
How to make these Samosa Appetizer Pinwheels
Tips for this recipe
Storage and Freezing Instructions
Recipe FAQs
Related appetizer recipes
Samosa Appetizer Pinwheels

Recipe Ingredients

This recipe uses easy to find, simple ingredients. The potato filling ingredients mimic the flavors of a classic samosa. The puff pastry is great for realizing this unfried version of a samosa.

Ingredients for Savory Appetizer Pinwheels on a metal tray - potatoes, cheese, spices, cilantro, peas, puff pastry sheet and green chili.

Puff Pastry: 200% you do not need to make your own puff pastry dough. If Ina Garten uses store-bought puff pastry, so can you. These are usually sold in the freezer section right by frozen desserts, whipped topping etc. are.
Spices: Most of the spices used in this recipe are available at regular grocery stores these days, except for may be chaat masala. These spices create a unique flavor combination that is characteristic of a classic samosa.
Chili Pepper: use according to your desired or tolerance level of spice. Thai chilies are pictured here which are very hot but you can use jalapenos or serranos or completely skip them.
Potatoes: I recommend using russet potatoes for this recipe. I usually boil them whole in a pressure cooker but you can use your trusted method of boiling potatoes.

See recipe card for quantities and other ingredients.

Recipe Variations

This appetizer pinwheels recipe is so versatile and you can use the same technique to make different variations.

Vegan - this recipe is vegan - just make sure that the puff pastry you buy is vegan.
Add paneer - you can add paneer along with cashew and raisins to give the recipe a royal (shahi) Indian touch, just like this Shahi Paneer recipe. Make sure to chop the paneer, cashews and raisins small.
Kid friendly - If your kids do not like spicy food, skip the green chili, replace pepper jack cheese with cheddar and tone down the spice powders a tad bit to make this recipe kid friendly.

Also check out these Aloo Patties or Potato Puff Pastry Pockets and this smashed potato salad with charred corn on my website!

How to make these Samosa Appetizer Pinwheels

Plan ahead: Thaw your frozen puff pastry sheets as per the instructions on packaging. This recipe does not include time for boiling the potatoes so make sure you have boiled potatoes on hand.

Step 1: Set a heavy bottomed or non stick pan on medium high heat and dry roast coriander and cumin seeds until fragrant, about 1 minute (Image 1). Remove from the pan, let cool, and coarsely pound using a mortar pestle.

Step 2: Add oil in the same pan, turn the heat back on to medium and green chilies and the pounded coriander and cumin seeds (Image 2). Cook for a minute.

Coriander and cumin seeds in a non stick pan.

Chopped chilies in oil with coriander and cumin seed powder.

Steps 3 and 4: Next, add the boiled, mashed potato and green peas (Image 3) followed by the spice powders and seasonings (Image 4). Mix and cook on low heat until the mixture comes together.

Boiled, mashed potatoes and green peas with oil in a non stick pan.

Boiled, mashed potatoes and green peas in a non stick pan with spices.

Step 5: Once the potato mixture is ready, test for seasoning and adjust spices or salt if needed. Turn the heat off and add the cheese and chopped cilantro (Image 5).

Step 6: Sprinkle some flour on a clean kitchen counter or on a silicon mat (like I use). Fold out 1 of your thawed puff pastry sheet and roll it out until it's approximately 13 by 9 inches in size (Image 6).

Potato mixture of appetizer pinwheels with shredded pepperjack cheese and chopped cilantro.

Puff pastry sheet rolled out into a rectangle on a floured silicon rolling mat.

Step 7: Make a slurry with 1 tablespoon flour and 2 tablespoon water and apply some to the longer edge of the puff pastry away from you. Spread half of the potato mixture on to the rolled out puff pastry sheet (Image 7).

Step 8: Start rolling from the long edge closest to you and roll the sheet away from yourself until you reach the end where you applied the flour slurry. Press the edge to seal and make sure the roll is tight. I rolled out the log a little further to make it slightly thinner (Image 8). Repeat with second puff pastry sheet and remaining filling. Place both the logs in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. After about 25 preheat your oven to 400 degree F.

Rolled out puff pastry sheet topped with samosa appetizer pinwheel potato mixture.

A log of samosa appetizer pinwheel on a silicon rolling mat.

Step 9: Take one log out of the refrigerator and using a sharp knife, cut into ½ inch pinwheels (Image 9). You should get close to 25 pinwheels after discarding the edge cuts.

Step 10: Place the pinwheels on a lightly greased or parchment lined cookie sheet (Image 10). Repeat with second log. Put the cookie sheets in your preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until crisp and golden.

Step 11: Sprinkle with some chaat masala and chopped cilantro and serve with ketchup or chutneys.

Half inch Samosa appetizer pinwheel slices cut.

Samosa appetizer pinwheel slices on a cookie sheet ready to be baked.

Tips for this recipe

Puff Pastry - Don't let the puff pastry get to room temperature or warmer. It's easiest to work with it while it's still cold. If the puff pastry cracks while rolling out, use a little water and pinch the dough back together.
Potatoes - Do not completely mash your boiled potatoes. I recommend using a fork to break the potatoes apart rather than a potato masher. This gives the potato filling some texture.
Baking the pinwheels - Line or grease your cookie sheets. While baking the potato masala in these samosa appetizer pinwheels will expand a little and might slightly ooze out. If your cookie sheet is not lined/greased the potato mixture will stick and burn. Don't ask how I know!

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Store: Baked pinwheels can be stored in a air tight container in the refrigerator for upto 2 days. When ready to eat, reheat in the toaster oven or in the air fryer (300 degrees, 5 minutes). Before baking, the prepared log can be stored in the refrigerator for a day.

Freeze: You can freeze these unbaked appetizer pinwheels by flash freezing the cut slices in a cookie sheet for an hour and then storing them in freezer bags for a month. Bake from frozen in a 400 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes. I would not recommend freezing baked pinwheels.

Recipe FAQs

Can you make these pinwheels ahead of time?

Yes, you can roll and slice the pinwheels and store them in the refrigerator until ready to bake. The puff pastry actually bakes more flaky when baked from chilled.

How many pinwheels per person?

These are small and addictive. I would go with a serving size of 4-5 per person.

Does the recipe work with just cheese filling?

Yes, you can skip the potato masala and add you favorite shredded cheese. You can also do ham and cheese or pesto and mozzarella as other filling options.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment and let me know how you liked it! Share it on Instagram with the hashtag #thekitchendocs or share on Facebook, too.

Love – Vaishali

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