One-pot paneer curry pie
What’s more comforting than a curry in pie form? This one-pot paneer pie is filled with a makhani-style filling and topped with a crisp puff pastry lid
Ingredients
●2 tbsp vegetable oil
●440g paneer, cut into 2cm cubes
●4 tbsp ghee or butter
●2 large onions, finely sliced
●2 large garlic cloves, crushed
●thumb-sized piece of ginger, finely grated
●½ tsp hot chilli powder
●2 tsp ground cumin
●2 tsp fenugreek seeds
●1½ tbsp garam masala
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
●1 tbsp caster sugar
●300g potato, peeled and cut into 2cm cubes
●150g spinach
●150g frozen peas
●100ml double cream
●2 tbsp cashew nut butter
●plain flour, for dusting
●320g sheet all-butter puff pastry
●2 large eggs, 1 whole, 1 yolk only, lightly beaten together (freeze the leftover egg white for another recipe)
●2 tsp nigella seeds
●pilau rice or green veg, to serve
Method
STEP 1
Heat the oil over a medium heat in a shallow flameproof casserole dish roughly 30cm wide. Add the paneer and fry for 5 mins, turning with tongs until each side is golden. Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate lined with kitchen paper.
STEP 2
Heat the ghee or butter in the same dish over a medium-low heat, then add the onions and a big pinch of salt. Fry for 15 mins, or until softened and caramelised. Stir in the garlic and ginger, cook for 1 min, then tip in the spices and fry for a further 2 mins. Scrape the spiced onions into a food processor or blender along with the tomatoes and blitz until smooth. Pour back into the pan with 1½ cans of water, then stir through the sugar and potatoes. Bring to the boil, lower to a simmer, then cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20-25 mins or until the potato is just tender.
STEP 3
Add the spinach and peas, and cook for 5 mins. Stir in the cream and cashew butter, then return the paneer to the pan and season to taste. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely.
STEP 4
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry out to just bigger than your casserole dish. Cut a thin strip off each side and fix these around the edge of the casserole. Roll the pastry sheet over the top and press the edges with a fork to seal, and tuck in any overhang. Brush with the egg, sprinkle with the nigella seeds and bake for 30-35 mins or until deep golden brown. Leave to rest for 15 mins before serving with pilau rice or green veg.