Curried Vegetable Pasties

Spicy curried vegetables in a sour cream pastry will liven up your lunchtime. Recipe makes 8 pasties.

Ingredients:

4 cups self-rising (raising) flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces (125 g) butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 pint (150 ml) sour cream
Filling:
4 teaspoons peanut oil
1 ounce (30 g) butter
1 large potato (about 8 ounces/250 g), peeled and diced
1 large carrot (about 5 ounces/ 155 g) peeled and diced
1 cup finely chopped leek
4 ounces (125 g) mushrooms, diced
4 teaspoons curry powder or paste
Salt
Beaten egg, to glaze

Method:

1. Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and rub in with fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
2. In another bowl, mix the eggs and sour cream. Stir into the flour mixture until it forms a soft dough. Compress the dough together, then form into a disc shape on a lightly floured surface. Wrap in greaseproof paper and chill for 1 hour.
3. For the filling, heat the oil and butter in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the potato and carrot, cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the leek and mushrooms and cook a further 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the curry powder and stir constantly for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add salt to taste. Leave to cool.
4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease 2 large baking trays. Roll pastry out on a lightly floured surface and cut out eight 6 inch (15 cm) rounds. Turn the rounds over, brush off excess flour. Spoon the filling evenly onto one side of each round. Brush edges with a little beaten egg. Fold the pastry over the filling and seal the edges with a fork.
5. Put the pasties onto the prepared baking trays. Brush with remaining beaten egg. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve hot.

Tip: Try using wholemeal self-rising (raising) flour for a wholesome variation. Or, add 4 ounces (125 g) diced cooked lamb or chicken to the curried vegetables.