Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these spinach puffs make a delicious snack. In fact, they are so mouth-watering that even those who do not eat spinach will want to try them out.

Filled with spinach, cream cheese and a hint of black pepper and wrapped in flaky puff pastry, they are easy to prepare and perfect for teatime.

The best thing about this recipe is that you can customise the filling to suit your taste, such as adding finely chopped carrots, sweet corn, cooked chicken chunks or even boiled eggs! Just don’t skip the spinach, though, as it is the star ingredient and its smooth texture complements the cream cheese perfectly.

Ingredients

• 100g cream cheese

• 250g raw spinach

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder

• 6 puff pastry sheets

• Egg wash, for brushing

Method

Cook the spinach in a pan over medium heat for 2–3 minutes.

Strain off the excess water.

In a bowl, mix the spinach, cream cheese, salt and pepper until creamy.

Place about 1½ tablespoons of filling on each pastry sheet.

Fold the corners inwards to form a star shape and seal them.

Lightly brush the puffs with egg wash.

Air-fry at 180°C for 10–12 minutes, or until golden and crisp.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 31st, 2026