Crispy, crunchy, and super delicious, these masala cheese sticks come together in less than 30 minutes and are the perfect evening snack to accompany your chai or coffee. They are also perfect for Iftar!
Evening snacks are a big part of South Asian culture. You CANNOT serve evening chai or coffee by itself; it must come with a plethora of snacks – especially if there are guests over. Because of this. I’m always in search of quick and easy snacks that are super delicious but simple to make, and these masala cheese sticks tick all those boxes!
Made with puff pastry sheets, these masala cheese sticks are crispy, crunchy, and packed with flavor, and come together quickly.
Let’s get into the details of the recipe.
Spice Mix
The main flavor in these cheese sticks comes from the spice mix, and the best part is that it’s fully customisable. You can use a variety of spice mixes like garam masala, chat masala, or go a different route and use spice mixes like za’atar for a Middle Eastern touch.
I like to use a classic mix of red chili, cumin, and coriander powder, but each one is delicious in its own way. You can choose to use a few different spice mixes if you want a little bit of variety.
Puff Pastry
To keep these cheese sticks simple and easy, we use store bought squate puff pastry sheets. Make sure to thaw them at room temperature until they’re soft enough to use before assembly.
Here are the steps for making the masala cheese sticks.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- Place the square puff pastry sheets on baking paper and slice them into four equal strips.
- Brush each strip with butter and sprinkle the spice mix generously on top so that it sticks.
- Place finely grated mozzarella cheese on top of the spice mix, evenly on each strip, and gently press down everything using a rolling pin so that the cheese sticks in place. Do not roll too much, or the puff pastry will become very thin.
- Pick up each strip from the sheet and roll it from both edges until it forms a twist, and place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
- Brush the sticks with butter and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, and serve with your favorite chutneys.
My favorite part about these cheese sticks is that you can store them in an airtight container and they will stay crisp for 2-3 days, making them easy to make in advance for a quick snack.
If you’re looking for something delicious to enjoy with your cup of chai, you must try this recipe.
Ready to get started? Let’s go!
Masala Cheese Sticks
Equipment
- Baking tray
- Baking paper
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 6 puff pastry square sheets
- 100 grams butter melted
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp coriander powder
- Salt to taste
- 100 grams mozzarella cheese finely grated
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Make the spice mix: Mix together the spices and salt until combined
- Lay the puff pastry sheet on the prepared surface and cut it into four even strips, and lightly brush each strip with melted butter.
- Sprinkle the masala spice mix evenly over the buttered pastry, so it coats the surface well.
- Scatter finely grated mozzarella over each strip, then gently press it in with a rolling pin to help everything stick together.
- Lift each strip and twist it from both ends to create a spiral shape. Place the twisted sticks onto the lined baking tray.
- Brush the tops with a little more butter and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese sticks are puffed up and golden brown. Serve with your favorite chutneys.
Notes
- Don’t over-roll the pastry: When pressing the cheese in, use a light hand. Rolling too much can make the puff pastry thin and prevent it from puffing properly in the oven.
- Cheese matters: Finely grated mozzarella works best as it melts evenly and sticks to the pastry without falling off.
- Spice level: Adjust the amount of spice mix to suit how bold you want the flavor. You can also use different spice mixes for different flavors.
- Serving ideas: These masala cheese sticks are delicious straight from the oven but also stay crisp at room temperature, making them great for parties.
If you give this recipe a try, don’t forget to let me know how you liked it in the comments. And of course, share it with me on Instagram!
Until next time!
