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Kuku Paka Curry Pie

A fun take on a curry pie with a rich and coconutty chicken curry filling.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Snack
Cuisine African, Australian
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

Pie dough

  • 400 g plain flour
  • 200 g chilled unsalted butter diced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • A few tbsp water
  • 3 sheets puff pastry

For the curry

  • Vegetable oil for sautéing
  • 6 chicken thighs diced into small cubes
  • 1 large brown onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cm piece of ginger grated
  • 1 small bunch coriander roots finely chopped, leaves torn
  • 400 g tin diced tomatoes
  • 400 g tin coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp ground coriander
  • 1 tbsp ground turmeric
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 1 tbsp corn starch made into a slurry with a few tbsp water, optional
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

To make the curry

  • Add the chicken to a large bowl and add a tsp salt, the spices, and a drizzle of oil. Toss to thoroughly coat the chicken and set aside.
  • Heat a heavy based pot over high heat and fry the chicken pieces until golden on both sides, making sure not to overcrowd the pan - cook in batches if required.
  • Remove the chicken and set aside.
  • Reduce the heat to medium high and add a drizzle of oil to the pan.
  • Add the onions, garlic, ginger and coriander roots, and sauté for a few minutes until softened and translucent.
  • Add back the chicken and all of it's juices, followed by the tinned tomatoes and coconut milk.
  • Leaver to simmer for 15-20 minutes until thick and glossy.
  • Optionally, add the corn starch slurry and simmer for another minute or 2 until further thickened.
  • Transfer the curry to a bowl and set aside in the fridge until cooled completely.

To make the dough.

  • Add flour, butter and salt in a food processor or stand mixer and mix until it resembles fine crumbs with no large lumps of butter. Add water a splash at a time until the dough starts to clump together into larger clumps.
  • Turn the dough out onto a work bench, press flat with your hands and wrap in cling film. Set aside in the fridge for 20 minutes to rest.
  • Remove the dough from the fridge and bring to room temperature before rolling out. Sprinkle your work surface generously with flour and roll dough to around 4mm-thick. Cut dough into circles that are at least 1cm larger than the tins you're using.

To assemble

  • Lay the pie dough into the tins and press firmly into the sides.
  • Spoon in the cooled curry and brush the edges of the pastry with egg wash.
  • Top with a round of puff pastry, pressing slightly to adhere it to the base pastry.
  • Piece the top with 2 small holes to allow steam to escape while cooking.
  • Bake in a 200C oven for 20-30 minutes or until the puff pastry top is golden and flaky and the filling is hot.
  • Serve with fruit chutney.
Keyword african, coconut, coriander, curry, pie