Sri Lankan Curry Puffs Recipes

EMPANADA-STYLE SRI LANKAN FISH PATTIES WITH CURRY AïOLI

Steps:

• For the pastry, mix the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour until it's the texture of breadcrumbs. Mix the beaten egg yolk into the dough. Slowly pour in the coconut milk, kneading the dough until it just comes together. Add a little flour or water if needed. Wrap and chill for an hour.¼½
• Meanwhile, make the filling. Put a pan of water on to boil. Peel the potato and chop into 1cm cubes, then add to the pan and simmer over a medium heat for 10-12 mins until cooked through. Drain and leave to cool.
• Heat the 1 tbsp oil in a saucepan and cook the onion, garlic and ginger for 8 mins until golden. Add the spices and black pepper, stir and cook for 1 min, then add the fish and dill, and cook for another 2-3 mins. Add the potato and salt, and mix well, cooking for 2 mins. Take the pan off the heat, add the lime juice and leave to cool.
• Break the pastry in half and roll out each half, in turn, on a floured surface to a depth of 3mm. If you have one, use a 7cm pastry cutter to cut out eight circles from each sheet of pastry, re-rolling the pastry and cutting circles until it's all used up. There will be about 26-28 in total.
• Spoon 1 tsp of the fish mixture onto each of the pastry circles. Using a small pastry brush, brush some egg white along the edges of each of the pastry circles. Fold each one to make an empanada shape. Using a fork, press along the sides to ensure they are fully sealed.
• Pour 500ml oil into a saucepan making sure it's no more than two-thirds full, and heat to 180C, or until a little piece of pastry starts to sizzle. Carefully deep-fry the patties in small batches for 2-4 mins, turning halfway through until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper to absorb excess oil.
• Put all the ingredients for the aïoli in a mixing bowl, stir together and serve with the empanadas.

SRI LANKAN CURRY PUFFS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pan, add mustard seeds and when the pop add curry leaves and turmeric powder. Stir until fragrant.
• Add onions and fry for 5 minutes or until translucent.
• Add potatoes, peas, garam masala, green chilli, corinander and salt to taste. Mix well. Allow to cool.
• Cut the pastry sheets into 10cm squares and place 1 tablespoon of filling in the middle of each square. Brush the edges with water and fold to form a triangle, pressing the edges with a fork to seal.
• Arrange the triangles on a lined tray, brush with beaten egg and bake at 180C for 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden. Serve hot.

CHICKEN CURRY PUFFS

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in coriander, turmeric, cumin, and curry powder. Cook a few seconds until fragrant. Pour in coconut milk, onions, lemon grass, and red pepper; cook until the vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes. Stir in potato and continue cooking for 12 minutes, adding more coconut milk if the mixture becomes too dry. Stir in the chicken, then season with salt. Cook and stir until chicken and potato has absorbed most of the liquid, then spread mixture on a plate to cool.
• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Unfold puff pastry and cut each sheet into 9 squares. Place heaping spoonfuls of the filling in the center of each square. Gather all 4 corners of the pastry and pinch together at the top, forming a small pouch. Place each pastry on the baking sheet, about 1 inch apart.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 22 to 27 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before removing to cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.