Ingredients
- 1 tbsp coconut or vegetable oil
- 2 cloves
- 10 Tellicherry or ordinary black pepper corns
- 2.5cm/1” cassia bark
- 12 curry leaves
- 1tsp grated ginger
- 1 medium onion, cut into 2.5cm/1” dices
- 500g (1lb2oz) chicken thighs, boneless and diced
- 50g (2oz) plain flour
- 8-12 baby carrots, peeled, blanched and cut into 2.5cm/1” pieces
- 16-20 silver skin onions
- 15 green beans cut into 2.5cm/1” batons, blanched
- 2 tbsp seasoned flour
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- 400ml (14floz) coconut milk
- 110g (4oz) ready made puff pastry sheet
- CRUST
- 1 egg, for egg wash
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp black sesame seeds
Introduction
Indian born, Atul Kochhar has been critically acclaimed for his modern take on Indian cuisine, as showcased in his restaurant Benares, while he is a television regular, in 2010 launching his own series Atul’s Spice Kitchen: Malaysia.Method
- Pre heat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6.
- Heat oil, sauté cloves, peppers, cassia bark and curry leaves for a minute.
- Then add ginger and onions, sauté until translucent.
- Toss the chicken thighs with the plain flour salt and pepper.
- Add chicken thighs, sauté to seal and then add carrots, sliver skin onions and beans.
- Add powdered spices, sauté for 1 minute and add seasoned flour and cook for further 2-3 minutes.
- Add coconut milk, bring to simmer for further 5-7 minutes, remove and cool.
- Spoon the curry into a pie dish.
- Filling should come almost to the top.
- Place something the middle to hold pastry, a pie funnel or a cup or an egg cup will do.
- Let the mixture cool.
- Roll out the pastry to fit the top of the dish - it should be slightly larger than the pie dish.
- Crush the coriander, cumin, fennel and black sesame seeds together.
- Wet the rim of the pastry with water or milk and place it on the dish.
- Press it firmly on the rim of the dish and pinch the edges to seal well.
- Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle the spice crust on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and crisp at the edges.
- Serve immediately, hot with a leafy salad.