What's not to love about paneer, I say! This nifty paneer squares recipe makes a very delicious paneer starter. In fact, this is even better when served as finger food to accompany drinks. These little peppery paneer squares are easy to make and very moreish, so make plenty!

Yields 20

Prep Time - 30 min

Cook Time - 45 min

Total Time - 1 hr 15 min

Ingredients

1. Ready rolled puff pastry - 1 sheet

2. Paneer - 225 g

3. Onion - 1 medium

4. Garlic - 4 cloves

5. Spinach - 100 g

6. Red pepper - 1 large

7. Mature cheddar cheese - 100 g (approx). With cheese, the more the merrier though, I think!

8. Black pepper

9. Salt

10. Olive oil - 1 tbsp

Instructions

1. Peel and finely chop the onion

2. Peel and finely chop the garlic

3. Dice the paneer

4. Wash and chop the spinach coarsely

5. Dice the pepper

6. Grate the cheese

7. Heat the oil in a pan on medium

8. When hot, add the onion and sauté till translucent

9. Add the garlic and sauté for a couple more minutes

10. Add the spinach, stir through, cover and cook for 5 minutes, to allow the spinach to wilt

11. Open and allow to cook till the water has almost evaporated

12. Add the pepper and mix through. Cook for 5 minutes until the pepper softens

13. Add the paneer

14. Season with salt and pepper

15. Mix through and cook for 5 minutes. Fold everything in occasionally, to prevent it sticking to the pan

16. Allow to cool

17. In the meantime, pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees celcius

18. Roll out the pastry sheet

19. Using a sharp knife, cut into 20 squares and arrange on a non-stick baking tray

20. Using a blunt knife, gently mark out a square in each square, about half a centimetre from the edge. Be careful not to cut through the pastry

21. Spoon the paneer mixture onto the inner squares

22. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top

23. Place in the middle of your preheated oven

24. Bake for approx 15 - 20 minutes until the cheese melts and the pastry turns golden brown

25. Use a spatula to ease the squares off the tray

26. Serve hot

Notes

1. Mix a little grated mozzarella along with the cheddar for a stretchy cheese topping!

2. To check if your pastry has cooked, look at the bottom of the squares. They should come off the baking tray easily and should be golden to light brown

3. If you don't have a non-stick baking tray, line your tray with baking parchment and place your pastry squares on top