Air Fryer Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists

Air Fryer Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists are crisp twisted puff pastry sticks with a tasty filling of chorizo and cheese. These delicious snacks are easy to make and perfect with dips for parties, and buffets.

Why make Air Fryer Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists?

These Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists are a really useful snack to have in your repertoire. They are incredibly moreish and full of super tasty cheese and chorizo. They also take very little time or skill to make, and yet you can serve the twists at parties as an appetiser or canape that everyone will love.

What is an Air Fryer?

An air fryer is a bit like a mini oven. However, the element is only at the top of the air fryer and it uses a powerful fan to circulate the heat. This combination of intense heat and circulation means that food crisps up quickly.

Air fryers were originally sold for their ability to create ‘fried’ food with less fat. However, there has been lots of development of air fryers and they have the potential to cook and bake all kinds of foods.

What kind of Air Fryer can I use to bake the Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists?

You will need the kind of air fryer that has temperature control as well as a timer and no paddle. Otherwise, any air fryer brand should do the job very well.

My air fryer is a model with a pull-out square drawer and it needs to be pre-heated before use. If you have a different kind of air fryer you may have to adjust the timing or temperature by a minute or two either way.

Safety Note

Do not put baking parchment into the air fryer when preheating your air fryer.  The paper will rise up with the air circulation and burn on the heating element.  Once the air fryer is preheated it is safe to put in the parchment and place the Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists on top. The weight of the puff pastry twists will hold down the paper and it is then perfectly safe. 

Can I make the Puff Pastry Twists in my oven?

You can bake puff pastry twists in an air fryer or an oven. I have included the instructions for oven baking in the recipe card at the bottom of this article.

What ingredients do I need to make Air Fryer Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists?

You only need four ingredients to make these delicious crispy sticks. Here is what you will need:

• ready rolled puff pastry
• chorizo
• mozzarella 
• egg

A full list of the ingredients and the required quantities is found in the recipe card at the end of this article.

What is ready rolled puff pastry?

When I started baking, puff pastry only came in solid blocks that you had to roll out yourself. You can still buy it in blocks and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, I really love the ready rolled pastry that comes in a sheet that you simply unroll and it’s ready to go. It’s just so convenient and makes this recipe super speedy.

Can I make my own puff pastry?

You can make puff pastry, it is not a particularly difficult recipe but it does take a bit of time. Homemade puff pastry is really delicious, so if you have the time you might want to try making it yourself.

What kind of chorizo should I use for Air Fryer Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists?

There are three types of Spanish chorizo and they are all delicious:

• Raw chorizo (chorizo fresco)
• Semi-cured Spanish chorizo (semicurado)
• Cured Spanish chorizo (curado)

In this recipe you need the raw chorizo that is used for cooking. It is soft and usually comes in links like those in the photo above.

I can’t find cooking chorizo what can I substitute?

If you can’t find this type of chorizo then you may be able to find some sausages that contain both pork and chorizo. I know that I have seen them in the supermarket and they will have enough chorizo flavour to give a similar result.

You can, of course, use any raw sausagemeat and make cheese and sausage twists but I really recommend trying to find chorizo because it is absolutely delicious.

What is mozzarella?

Authentic fresh mozzarella is a mild, smooth-textured Italian cheese made from the milk of the water buffalo. Although much of the mozzarella you will buy is actually made with cow’s milk. To make mozzarella the curd is mixed with heated whey and stretched and kneaded until it attains a smooth, pliable consistency. It is then moulded into spheres or ovals and stored in water to keep it moist.

Pizza mozzarella

For this recipe I use what is sometimes known as pizza mozzarella. It is a low-moisture mozzarella that has a firmer texture, is easier to grate, has better browning and melting characteristics, and keeps for longer.

Can I use pre-grated mozzarella for the Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists?

I always have a bag or two of ready grated mozzarella in my freezer and this is what I use for this recipe. It keeps really well and you can use it straight from freezer.

Can I use mozzarella slices?

You can use mozzarella slices as long as they are not too thickly cut. I have not tried this but I anticipate that it will make it a little more tricky to get the twist to stay in place than with grated cheese.

Can I use a different cheese?

You can use any firm cheese to make the Air Fryer Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry twists. It has to be a cheese that you can grate and one that will melt well. Here are some cheeses you might like to try:

• Cheddar
• Red Leicester
• Manchego
• Fontina
• Emmental
• Gruyere

I don’t eat eggs, what can I substitute?

The egg for this recipe is used to glaze the puff pastry twists. You can leave it out altogether or use a little milk.

Can I make a large quantity of Air Fryer Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists?

If you plan to double or treble the recipe then you will definitely want to bake them in the oven. It is more economical and, depending on your oven, you can bake two or three trays of the twists at one time.

Can I make the puff pastry twists ahead of time?

These snacks are best served within 3-4 hours of baking. They may start to lose their crispness if you bake them any earlier. However, you can prepare them the day before and store the unbaked puff pastry twists on trays in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake them.

Can I freeze Air Fryer Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists?

Keeping a container of frozen puff pastry twists is ideal if you want to take out a few at a time to bake and enjoy.

If all of the ingredients you are using are fresh and not previously frozen, then you can freeze the ready to bake twists on open trays. Once frozen solid, keep them in the freezer in air tight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months.

Bake from frozen and check them at the time stated in the recipe card. If the puff pastry is not golden brown, then bake for a further few minutes until they are fully baked.

Gluten Free

It is possible to buy gluten free puff pastry with which to make the Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists. Some chorizo is gluten free but not all. Ready grated cheese may be coated in flour that contains gluten so please do check or grate your own cheese.

Vegetarian

It is possible to buy vegetarian chorizo sausages which may be suitable for this recipe, however I have not tested them.

For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.

How should I serve Air Fryer Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists?

These crisp and flavourful twists can be served in lots of different ways, here are some ideas:

• I like to serve the puff pastry twists as a snack with dips such as Tomato Salsa or this Easy Ranch Dip.
• They are delicious as part of a charcuterie board with cheeses and cold meats, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and carrot batons.
• Serve Cheese and Chorizo Puff Pastry Twists with a warming bowl of soup for a casual lunch or supper.
• Make the twists smaller and serve as a canape with a few other light bites and dips.

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