Curry Puff

Curry puffs are a popular snack food in Southeast Asia, especially in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. They are pastry pockets filled with a spicy and savory filling, typically made with a combination of ingredients like potatoes, carrots, onions, chicken, or beef. The filling is then wrapped in a light, flaky pastry dough and deep-fried until golden brown. Having a sweet tooth craving? Check out the sweetened version called egg puff.

Here is a basic recipe for making curry puffs at home:

Ingredients: For the pastry dough:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 2 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:

• 1 large potato, peeled and diced
• 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1/2 cup cooked chicken or beef, diced
• 2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup water

Instructions:

1. To make the pastry dough, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the chilled butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to incorporate the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Add the ice water, a tablespoon at a time, and mix until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix, as this will make the dough tough.
4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
5. To make the filling, heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the diced potatoes, carrots, and onions. Cook until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.
6. Add the diced chicken or beef, curry powder, cornstarch, salt, sugar, black pepper, and water. Stir until the filling thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
7. Remove the filling from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
8. Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
9. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pastry dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out circles of dough using a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass.
10. Place a spoonful of filling in the center of each dough circle. Fold the dough over to create a semi-circle shape, and press the edges together to seal.
11. Place the curry puffs on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the puffs are golden brown.
12. Serve the curry puffs warm and enjoy!

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