Coconut Curry Puffs Recipe on Food52 (2024)

At home in New York, I was accustomed to ordering Thai food on any given night when I was too tired to cook, rainy evenings, lazy Saturday afternoons, you name it. Curry Puffs and Pad See Ew developed into serious comfort food for my husband and I. Now, living in Israel, Thai food is hard to come by. In the small city we currently call home there isn’t a single Thai restaurant, and I’ve been known to lug home Thai take-out from a reputable restaurant in Tel Aviv (which is an hour and a half away).

This isn’t the only comfort food that’s hard to come by here. While it can be frustrating, it’s also forced me to be creative and figure out how to make it on my own. Burritos, Chicken Tikka Masala, and even meatloaf have all made it into my repertoire since moving here. So, this is my attempt at curry puffs, based on memory and guesswork. I figured puff pastry would make a good crust, and coconut milk was a must. While not an exact replica, they’re pretty darn close and regardless are completely addictive. Don’t skip the cucumber dipping sauce. For me, that’s what really made the experience like home.

A few notes on the recipe. I meant to use chicken breast but got turkey instead (darn language barrier and rushing in the supermarket) but it turned out great. Purchasing ground chicken or turkey would cut a step out and works great. I like to pulse the chicken breast in the food processor so I have control over the texture; I want it rough for this recipe, but that’s a personal preference. This recipe makes a lot, but they also freeze really well so it’s worth it to put in the effort once and then have a supply for later. Alternately, you can easily halve the recipe. Finally, really taste and adjust the seasoning to your preference. I thought it needed a little sweetness so added sugar, but it’s not necessary. Same for the dipping sauce. Enjoy!
- kmartinelli —kmartinelli

Directions

1. Coconut Curry Puffs
2. Heat oil in a sauté pan. Add the chicken and onion and cook, stirring often and breaking up chicken with wooden spoon, about 5 minutes or until the chicken is mostly cooked. Add the potatoes, stir to combine, and cook another minute. Stir in the curry powder, then the curry paste, making sure to incorporate it fully here (it may stick in globs slightly).
3. Pour in the coconut milk and simmer (lowering heat if necessary so it’s simmering, not boiling), stirring occasionally, until coconut milk is absorbed. Add the turmeric, coriander, sugar, and mirin and season with salt. Taste and season with any of the spices as necessary. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
4. Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/8-inch thick. Using a round cookie or biscuit cutter or large glass (I used a martini glass) cut out 3- to 4-inch circles (curry puffs can be large or small, so it’s up to you). Put a spoonful of filling in the center and fold over to close. Pinch the edges to seal and crimp with a fork (real curry puffs have a cool rope-like seal but I couldn’t get that quite right…).
5. Heat about 1-inch vegetable or other high-temp oil in a heavy-bottomed pan until it is about 350F, very hot but not smoking (or, if you have a deep fryer, go nuts). Add the curry puffs one at a time; work in batches so as not to crowd the pan. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and keep warm in a 200F oven if desired. Serve with cucumber dipping sauce (recipe below).
6. Note: curry puffs can be frozen. Allow to cool slightly then place on a parchment-lined baking tray and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to an air-tight container or freezer bags. To reheat, take straight from the freezer and bake at 350F for 15 minutes, or until warmed through.

1. Cucumber Dipping Sauce
2. Combine the mirin, sugar and a pinch of salt in a small pot over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Taste and add more salt and/or sugar if desired. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
3. Stir in cilantro and cucumber. Refrigerate until ready to use.
4. Note: This recipe seems like a small amount, but makes enough for about 20 curry puffs. It is easily multiplied for larger batches

Recipe by: kmartinelli