Samosa Pie

It was my friend Mun's Annual Piefest. It's always in October, although my birthday would be perfect for Pies! Pies on pi day! I had to think of a pie to bring. I always like to make and bake my pie from scratch and try a new pie every time. Last year I took my delectable Beetroot Chocolate Cake Pie! Ok it's a cake but i called it a pie! This year I wanted to make an ethnic pie, its always a sweet European type pie or a baked dish or Chicken pot pie. Are there no pies in the Indian-Asian culture? What could be a pie? Naan pie? Samosa... Pie! Yes!

Ok so I googled and lo-behold there are a number of women who had addressed the "Samosa Pie" in the past. I mish-mashed recipes and I followed my inherent "Indian woman cooking instincts" and voila!

Samosa Pie:
What you will need:

• 3 -4 tbsp olive oil (healthier) or butter or ghee
• 1 onion, finely chopped (if you want, I leave it out cause Ryan doesn't do onions)
• 1 chili, finely chopped (if you like)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb ground chicken (or turkey)/ roast chicken breast hand chopped and shredded / eliminate for veggie
• Approx 1 tbsp garam masala (or curry powder
• ½ tsp turmeric (Approx)
• salt, to your taste only
• 1½ lbs potato (about 2 medium russets), diced (instinct!)
• 1 - 2 cups water to boil the potatoes in
• 1 cup green peas, frozen or fresh
• minced cilantro Approx 3-4 tablespoons (this little plant is so powerful mmm)
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed (1/2 a 17-oz package) OR homemade single pie crust recipe (Pillsbury has pre-made baking crusts) 1 for top or 2 for base and then top. Will post the home made crust recipe in a different blog! :-P
• Tomatoes (drained of excess water).

What to do

Heat oil or butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, chillies, garlic, tomato (without the watery part) and sprinkle a bit of the other spices and cook until golden and caramelized, about 20 minutes.

Stir in ground chicken (if cooking chicken). If not then add garam masala, turmeric, little cumin, paprika, and salt (remember you will be adding salt to the potatoes as well, so split it a bit).

Boil the potatoes in water with little salt; stirring occasionally, about 20-25 minutes until potatoes are tender. Drain excess water. Add potatoes and peas into the chicken/ spice mixture. Wait 5 to ten minutes, check consistency. Taste, and adjust seasoning.

Place the dough as base if you wish. (the pie hold marvelously without the base too! (Just saying). Transfer filling part to a 8-9 inch baking pan. Sprinkle the cilantro on top before rolling out dough on the top. Cut a few steam vents.

Bake at 400 degrees until crust is golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Ryan loves it! For the future I've thought of layering it with cheddar cheese, to mix it up!

My silly Vine video on it here!

YUMM!!!!!

Breathe!