Of course! Air-Fryer Beef Curry Party Pies are a fantastic twist on a classic party and picnic snack. They’re flavorful, handheld, and the air fryer makes the pastry incredibly crisp and golden without the mess of deep frying.
Here’s a detailed recipe that will guide you through making these delicious mini pies from scratch.
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Air-Fryer Beef Curry Party Pies
This recipe has three parts: making the flavorful curry beef filling, assembling the pies, and air-frying them to perfection.
Ingredients:
For the Filling:
· 1 tbsp vegetable oil
· 1 small onion, finely diced
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated
· 1 lb (500g) ground beef (mince)
· 2 tbsp curry powder (Madras is great for this)
· 1 tsp ground cumin
· 1 tsp ground coriander
· ½ tsp turmeric
· Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
· 1 tbsp tomato paste
· 2 tbsp fruit chutney or mango chutney (adds sweetness and depth)
· 2 tbsp water or beef stock
· Salt and black pepper to taste
· 2 tbsp fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (plus more for garnish)
For Assembly:
· 2 sheets frozen puff pastry or shortcrust pastry, thawed (approx. 17.3 oz / 490g total)
· 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
· Sesame seeds or poppy seeds for sprinkling (optional)
For Serving (Optional):
· Sweet chili sauce
· Greek yogurt or raita
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Instructions:
1. Prepare the Filling:
· Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for another minute until fragrant.
· Increase the heat to medium-high and add the ground beef. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned.
· Add the curry powder, cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne (if using). Stir for 1 minute until the spices are fragrant.
· Stir in the tomato paste, chutney, and water. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the mixture has thickened and most of the liquid has evaporated. Season well with salt and pepper.
· Remove from heat and stir in the fresh cilantro. Allow the filling to cool completely. (This is important: a hot filling will make the pastry soggy and difficult to handle.)
2. Assemble the Pies:
· Lightly flour a surface. Unfold one sheet of thawed pastry and roll it out slightly to smooth any seams.
· Using a round cookie cutter or a glass (about 3.5-4 inches / 9-10cm in diameter), cut out circles from the pastry. You will get about 8-10 circles per sheet.
· Place a heaped tablespoon of the cooled beef filling into the center of each circle.
· Brush the edges of the pastry circle lightly with the beaten egg wash.
· Place another pastry circle on top. Use a fork to firmly press and crimp the edges together to seal. This also creates a nice pattern.
· Repeat with the remaining pastry and filling. You can re-roll the pastry scraps to get more pies.
· Use a sharp knife to make a small slit or score on the top of each pie. This allows steam to escape and prevents them from bursting.
· Brush the tops of each pie generously with the remaining egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
3. Air-Fry the Pies:
· Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for 3 minutes.
· Carefully place the pies in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. You will likely need to work in batches.
· Air fry for 12-15 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and deep golden brown. No need to flip them.
· Remove carefully with tongs and let them cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before serving (the filling will be very hot!).
4. Serve:
· Serve the party pies warm with sweet chili sauce for dipping and a dollop of cool Greek yogurt or raita on the side. Garnish with extra cilantro.
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Chef’s Notes & Tips for Success:
· Cool the Filling: This is the most important step for easy assembly. You can even make the filling a day ahead and store it covered in the fridge.
· Pastry Choice: Puff pastry gives a light, flaky, and voluminous pie. Shortcrust pastry will give a denser, more traditional “party pie” texture. Both work wonderfully.
· Prevent Sogginess: The small slit on top is crucial. It lets the steam from the hot filling escape, keeping the pastry crisp.
· Don’t Overfill: Overfilling can cause the pies to burst open during cooking. A heaped tablespoon is usually perfect.
· No Preheating? If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat function, just add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time. All air fryers vary, so keep an eye on them after the 10-minute mark.
· Freeze for Later: These are fantastic to make ahead. Assemble the pies, place them on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Then transfer to a freezer bag. Cook from frozen, adding 3-5 extra minutes to the air frying time.
· Alternative Shape: For “sausage roll” style, cut the pastry into rectangles, place a line of filling down the center, fold the pastry over, seal, and air fry.
Enjoy your delicious, homemade party pies—they’re sure to be a hit