Matar Kachori Puff Pastry Pinwheels
These crispy, flaky Matar Kachori Pinwheels are a 30-minute Indian-fusion appetizer or snack with spiced peas rolled in buttery puff pastry. Just roll, slice, and bake!
Servings: 22 pinwheels
Calories: 86kcal
Ingredients
For Pinwheels
- 1 puff pastry sheet thawed in fridge
For Matar Kachori Filling
- 2 teaspoons light olive oil or avocado oil or any nuetral oil
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ½ inch ginger peeled and grated
- 1 serrano chili finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon besan (gram flour) See notes for substitute
- 16 oz green petite peas frozen 2 cups - thawed in the fridge overnight (or microwave- see notes)
- ½-¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne powder
- 2 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon fennel powder (½ teaspoon fennel seeds ground or crushed)
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala
- 1 tablespoon kasoori methi dry fenugreek leaves
Instructions
Prepare Matar Kachori Filling
- Add the thawed peas to a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground (not pureed). If your model doesn't have the 'pulse' feature, grind in short bursts for better texture control. Transfer the crushed peas to a bowl.
- Add ginger and serrano chili to the food processor and pulse it to a semi-fine texture.
- Heat a non-stick skillet (10-12 inch) on medium-high heat for 30 seconds. Add oil and cumin seeds. When the cumin sizzles, add the crushed ginger, green chili, and besan. Keep stirring and saute for 1 minute.
- Add the crushed peas, salt, turmeric, chili powder, coriander, fennel seeds, chaat masala, garam masala, and kasuri methi. Stir well to combine everything, and cook this mix for 4-5 minutes. Turn off the heat and transfer the filling to a bowl so it cools down.
Assemble Pinwheels
- Meanwhile, lightly dust your rolling surface and pin with all-purpose flour to prevent sticking. Roll out the pastry sheet with a rolling pin, horizontally and vertically, until it expands by 15-20%.
- Spread a thin, even layer of the matar kachori filling all over the sheet, leaving a ¼-inch border on the sides.
- Start rolling the sheet from the longer side, using small, tight folds to create a compact log. Once rolled, roll it a few more times to seal the seam securely.
- Trim about ½ inch from both ends and discard. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into ½-inch thick pinwheels.
Air Fry or Oven-Bake
- Air Fryer: Place the discs in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each one. Air fry at 400°F for 7 minutes. Avoid overcrowding the basket, as it can prevent them from puffing up and crisping correctly. Pull out the basket, flip the kachoris, and air fry for another 2-3 minutes until they turn golden brown.
- Oven: Place the pinwheels on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving some space between them. Bake according to the pastry box instructions—I typically bake them in a preheated 400°F oven for 10-12 minutes on one side, flip, and bake for another 4-5 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
- Let the pinwheels cool for 5-10 minutes, then serve with cilantro chutney, tamarind chutney, or even a side of ketchup!
Video
Notes
- Peas: I prefer using petite frozen peas for this recipe—they don’t require pre-cooking and have a naturally sweeter flavor. If using fresh or regular peas, steam them before starting with this recipe.
- Puff pastry: Remove the dough 10 minutes before assembling; any longer and it may become too soft to handle. You want it to be cold, not at room temperature.
- Slicing tip: If you're having trouble slicing, freeze the pinwheel log for 15-20 minutes to make slicing easier.
- Besan: Besan (gram flour) is essential for absorbing excess moisture in the filling and helping the pinwheels turn crispy. If unavailable, substitute with an equal quantity of cornflour.
- Multiplying the recipe: If using multiple puff pastry sheets, take them out one at a time. Refrigerate the rolled log while assembling the next to keep the pastry cold.
Nutrition
Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg