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Home » Recipe Index » Appetisers

Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels

Published: Jun 11, 2021 · Updated: Jun 11, 2021 Author: Alexandra Cook

For the full recipe including quantities and method, click the "jump to recipe" button, or scroll through and read our helpful tips along the way.

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My Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels are the ultimate, easily prepared appetiser, suitable to serve either hot or at room temperature. However, they are not just for entertaining; they are great served as snacks or ideal to add to school or work lunch boxes.

Overhead shot of cooked pinwheels on baking paper.
Jump to:
  • Why we love this recipe:
  • Ingredients in this recipe:
  • Step by step instructions:
  • Tips for success and FAQs:
  • More delicious recipes for you to try:
  • Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels

Why we love this recipe:

The Tuna Pinwheels are simple to make, full of flavour and easily prepared from ingredients that I always have on hand. There are some culinary items that I feel are essential to always keep; canned tuna and frozen butter puff pastry are two of these items.

These Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels are ideal for:

  • When you’re after a quickly prepared appetiser;
  • A savoury snack for the lunchbox;
  • Are preparing for entertaining and want to make things in advance.

When it comes to entertaining, I like to make my life as simple as possible, so I often turn to store-bought puff pastry. It is easy to use, so versatile and always popular. There are numerous ways in which to use it in either sweet or savoury dishes.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Ingredients in this recipe on a white background.

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Frozen butter puff pastry – this is one ingredient that I don’t make myself. For convenience, I always keep good quality butter puff pastry in the freezer. 

Canned tuna – I use good quality tuna, packed in oil, as I feel that it has more flavour than tuna packed in water.

Brown onion – also known as a yellow onion, it is the one most commonly used. You could, however, substitute with a white onion.

Olive Oil – you could use a mild flavoured oil as an alternative if you prefer. 

Cheddar cheese – also known as matured cheese or tasty cheese.

Continental/Italian parsley – this is the flat-leaf variety, and to me, the flavour and texture is far superior to curly parsley.

Lemon zest – adds a bright flavour. Be sure to avoid the bitter white pith.

Sea salt – is produced using natural methods of evaporation with minimal processing and this ensures that the salt retains much of its minerals.

Black pepper – freshly ground black pepper has brighter flavour than pre-ground. 

Step by step instructions:

Steps 1-4 of preparing this recipe in a photo collage - the chopped onions in a pan, the cooked onions, breaking up the tuna, the ingredients together in a bowl.
Steps 5-8 of preparing this recipe in a photo collage - the mixture on pastry, starting to roll the pastry up, cutting the pinwheels and the pinwheels on a baking tray.

You will need to start by pre-heating your oven and removing a sheet of puff pastry from the freezer to defrost.

  1. Finely chop some onion and add to a frying pan with a little olive oil.
  2. Fry the oven until slightly caramelised, and set aside to cool.
  3. Put drained tuna in a medium-size bowl and mash slightly to break up larger pieces.
  4. Next, add the cooked onion, grated cheese, lemon zest and parsley to the tuna and mix well to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 
  5. Top the sheet of puff pastry with the tuna mixture and spread it evenly. Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, press the mixture down to compact it.
  6. Slowly start to roll the pastry from the end nearest you. Roll it forward, reasonably firmly, until you have come to the end of the roll. Place the filled pastry in the fridge for about 15 minutes to firm up before cutting.
  7. Trim the ends with a serrated knife and discard. Then slice each pinwheel approximately 1.5cm (½ “) thick.
  8. Place your Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.

Serve warm from the oven or cool to room temperature.

Overhead shot of cooked pinwheels on baking paper.

Tips for success and FAQs:

For the best result, pastry must always be kept cold. If the pastry thaws before you have made the filling, return it to the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. 

When the pastry is almost defrosted, I add my filling and quickly roll up the pastry. To keep the pinwheel shape, it is essential that the pastry be rolled tightly. 

I return the filled pastry to the fridge for about 15 minutes to firm up before cutting. A sharp, serrated knife is best for cleanly cutting the pastry.

Always pre-heat the oven. For the best rise, cold puff pastry must go into a hot oven.

Can the Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare them in advance. They are delicious served at room temperature on the same day they are made. Otherwise, we recommend that you reheat the pinwheels in a moderate oven just prior to serving to crisp the pastry.

How should I store the pinwheels?

Store them for up to four days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can the pinwheels be frozen?

Yes, they can be frozen. After baking, allow them to cool completely then arrange them on a single layer on a baking tray and place in the freezer. When frozen, you can store them in an airtight container or zip-lock bag for up to two months. You can reheat them from frozen by placing in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees C (350 F) for about 10 minutes.

Three pinwheels in a stack, with one leaning on the edge.

More delicious recipes for you to try:

If you are a fan of tuna, we recommend you give these tasty recipes a try also:

  • Tuna Pasta Salad
  • Simple and Delicious Tuna Dip
  • Easy Tuna and Potato Patties
  • Creamy Tuna Pasta
  • Tuna and Cannellini Bean Dip

You can also view our complete collection of Savoury Puff Pastry Recipes here.

There is something irresistible about these crisp, flaky, Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels. They are perfect to serve as appetisers when entertaining, but I must warn you, they will disappear quickly! As well, they are great snacks, ideal to take on picnics, to potlucks or include in packed lunches. Also, I sometimes serve them as a light lunch alongside a bowl of soup or a salad.

I would love to hear what you think when you make them! Let me know in the comments below.

Alex xx

This post was originally published in August 2019. It has been updated with new photos and more information. The recipe remains the same.

Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels

My Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels are the ultimate, easily prepared appetiser, suitable to serve either hot or at room temperature. However, they are not just for entertaining; they are great served as snacks or ideal to add to school or work lunch boxes.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Review
Course: Appetiser, Snack
Cuisine: International
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 15 pinwheels
Calories: 119kcal
Author: Alexandra Cook – It’s Not Complicated Recipes

Please note:

For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results. All oven temperatures listed are for fan forced.

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet puff pastry See Note 1
  • 2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium brown/yellow onion – finely diced
  • 185 g (6.5 oz) canned tuna in oil – well-drained See Note 2
  • ⅓ cup cheddar cheese – grated See Note 3
  • 3 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley – finely chopped See Notes 4 and 5
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest See Note 6
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper – optional
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C (390 F). Prepare a baking tray with baking paper.
    Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and defrost. Return pastry to fridge once defrosted to keep chilled.
  • Finely chop your onion, and fry gently in olive oil for about 8-10 minutes, or until slightly caramelised. Set aside to cool.
  • Drain the can of tuna and add to a medium size bowl. Mash to break up any large pieces.
  • Add the cooked onion and remaining ingredients to the tuna, and mix well to combine.
    Check that the seasoning is to your taste, adding more salt, pepper or lemon zest if necessary.
  • Top the pastry with your tuna mixture. Evenly spread mixture, being sure to leave a small gap around the edge of the pastry.
    Using the back of a spoon or rubber spatula, press down on the mixture to compact it.
  • Slowly start to roll the pastry from the end nearest you. Keep rolling forward, reasonably firmly, keeping it as tight as possible, until you have come to the end of the roll.
    Return the puff pastry to the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to firm up. 
  • Using a serrated knife, trim the ends and discard.
    Then, using the same knife, slice each pinwheel approximately 1.5 cm (½ ") thick.
  • Place your pinwheels on a baking tray. If a little mixture falls out, just push it back in gently. See Note 7.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and the pastry is cooked through.
    Serve warm from the oven or allow to cool to room temperature (this is my favourite way to enjoy them!)
  • If making in advance, store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees C (350 F) for about 7 minutes to crisp the pastry.
    They also freeze well. Allow them to cool completely then arrange them on a single layer on a baking tray and place in the freezer. When frozen, you can store them in an airtight container or zip-lock bag for up to two months. You can reheat them from frozen by placing in a pre-heated oven at 180 degrees C (350 F) for about 10 minutes.

Notes

  1. My puff pastry sheet measured 24 cm X 24 cm (9 ½″) square.  If the puff pastry defrosts before you have prepared the filling, place the puff pastry in the refrigerator until ready to use. It must remain chilled.
  2. I find that tuna packed in oil has a better flavour. However, if you prefer, you can use tuna packed in water.
  3. I use a full-flavoured cheese. Cheddar is sometimes also known as matured cheese or tasty cheese.
  4. Continental/Italian parsley is the flat-leaf variety. To me, the flavour and texture is superior to curly parsley.
  5. The Australian tablespoon is 20 ml or 4 teaspoons. In many other countries, the tablespoon is 15 ml or 3 teaspoons. If necessary, please adjust your measurements.
  6. Be careful to remove just the zest and avoid the bitter white pith.
  7. On a warmer day, you may need to chill your pinwheels once you have sliced them, before placing them in the oven.
  8. Please note, the nutritional information is based on one pinwheel. The nutritional information is an estimate only.
Made this recipe? We’d be so grateful if you could leave a comment and rating at the bottom of the page!

Nutrition Estimate:

Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 87mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional Disclaimer:

The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aleksandra

    October 14, 2022 at 1:59 pm

    Hi, what is the weight of puff pastry in the recipe? I have 500 gr package, in freezer.
    Thank you!
    Aleksandra

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      October 14, 2022 at 2:08 pm

      Hi Aleksandra!
      For this recipe, we use a pre-rolled sheet of puff pastry that weighs approximately 185 grams.
      My puff pastry sheet measured 24 cm X 24 cm (9 ½″) square.
      I hope that helps!
      Thanks, Alex

      Reply
  2. Katharine

    September 09, 2022 at 1:31 am

    5 stars
    Very nice! Thank you

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      September 10, 2022 at 11:19 am

      Hi Katharine, I’m delighted that you enjoy the Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels. Thank you for letting me know. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jeannette

    November 23, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    5 stars
    What a fun way to use tuna! I love how it’s super easy with the puff pastry sheets. Thanks for sharing such a great party appetiser!

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      November 23, 2020 at 5:56 pm

      Thanks, Jeannette! I am really happy you enjoyed the pinwheels!

      Reply
  4. Maria

    November 22, 2020 at 1:34 am

    5 stars
    Another flavorful and very easy recipe! thank yu <3

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      November 22, 2020 at 10:11 am

      I am so glad you enjoyed it, Maria!

      Reply
  5. Sophia

    October 20, 2019 at 10:11 pm

    Hi girl! I’m skimming for recipes to prep for this week and this looks so yum. I can’t help but think of the Countess – “Storebought is fine!”

    Xoxo

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      October 21, 2019 at 7:16 am

      Oh let me know if you try this!! 🙂
      (And yes, when it comes to puff pastry – I couldn’t agree more!)
      xoxo

      Reply
  6. Candace Moczarski

    August 15, 2019 at 11:00 pm

    5 stars
    These are really amazing – I had never thought to use a can of tuna in this way, but it worked so well. So tasty!

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      August 16, 2019 at 7:58 pm

      Thank you for the lovely comments Candace, I am so pleased that you like this recipe. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Sam

    August 15, 2019 at 2:45 pm

    5 stars
    These are a great appetizer for holiday parties.

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      August 15, 2019 at 5:02 pm

      They sure are! Thanks, Sam!

      Reply
  8. Natalie O.

    August 14, 2019 at 11:23 pm

    This is awesome! We have a picky eater in the family – she never likes ANY of the appetizers we have at holiday meals. Like, legit – the thing she’s “known” for in the family is complaining about the food everyone else makes but never bringing anything herself. Haha! But she loves tuna and I think this is right up her alley. I can not wait for Christmas Eve… I am saving this for her and I can’t wait to be the first person to ever make Aunt Kay happy with food! Ha!

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      August 15, 2019 at 5:22 pm

      Ha Ha Natalie, I think many of us will identify with you. Many of us know someone, or have someone in the family, like that. I wish you very good luck with your tactics; let’s hope that Aunt Kay has something nice to say. 🙂 🙂

      Reply
  9. Terri

    August 13, 2019 at 12:50 am

    5 stars
    The world needs more canned tuna recipes, so thank you for this! It’s delicious and easy !

    Reply
    • Alexandra

      August 13, 2019 at 5:34 pm

      Thank you Terri, canned tuna is a very versatile ingredient, I wouldn’t be without it. 🙂

      Reply

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