Recipe & Video Curry Pan - Bread stuffed with curry, coated in panko and deep fried

[madebyyouandi]

Talking with people the last few days, apparently this dish isn't as widely known as I'd thought. They are well worth making. I made 24 to shoot this video; giving them away made me very popular with my neighbors and the rest freeze and thaw just fine, especially in an air fryer.

Here's the video I made with the recipe.

Oh, btw, I went to cooking school in Hyderabad, India for six months and the method of adding water three times in making the masala is the standard and makes any curry better. The water is said to further release the flavor in the spices and pull the caramel from the pan and onions, and this is my experience. It does take much longer but your guests will be able to taste the difference.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwCy5Ug1PeI


Ingredients

Spices for the masala:
1 piece Indian cinnamon
3-5 cardamon pods
1 tsp cumin
1/2 star anise
3-5 cloves
1-5 red chilies

(optional spices include)
1 piece mace
1 Indian bay leaf
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp black pepper corns
Red chilies peppers
Red chilies powder

Vegetables:
1/2 - 1 cup chopped onion
1 - 2 cups daikon (holds his shape, so adds mouthfeel)
1 cup potato (or sweet potato)
1 - 2 cups kabocha or firm squash (like butternut)
1 cup carrot

(optional vegetables include)
1 cup eggplant
1/2 cup green peas
1/2 cup cauliflower

Other ingredients:
1/4 oil or ghee
1 tbs ginger garlic paste
1 can/cup of chopped tomatoes
1 tbs garam masala powder
Salt to taste
Water

For the bread:
1 tsp salt
1 tsp yeast
200 grams bread flour
120ml water (or milk, which deeps the color)
1 tbs butter


Method

1. Dice your vegetables.
2. Prepare your spices.
3. Heat the oil in a pan. In the video I use a special vessel to heat the oil and pour it into the fry pan.
4. Add the spices to the oil and cook just until the cumin pops or starts to color.
5. Add the onions to stop the cooking in the pan.
6. On a med-high heat cook the onions stirring constantly so as not to burn the spices. Cook until they're very brown (as in the video). This can take up to 20 minutes.
7. Add one cup warm-hot water (I keep a pot of water boiling beside the fry pan when making masala.)
8. Cook until the water evaporates and you can see the oil again. The water releases flavor components from the spices and caramel from the onions. You will notice the color changes to a nice brown.
9. Add a second cup of water and cook until the water evaporates.
10. Add a third cup of water and do the same.
11. When you see the oil add the ginger garlic paste and cook for one minute to remove the sharpness.
12. Add the tomatoes. This stops the cooking in the pan to protect the ginger and garlic.
13. Cook until most, not necessarily all, the water evaporates. You want to partly caramelize the tomato.
14. Add in the turmeric, chilies, and any chili powder, stir, and then add the first vegetable. Here, the daikon. This again stops the cooking in the pan protecting your tomatoes.
15. Cook for five minutes, which begins to release the water and warm the daikon.
16. Add the potatoes and cook five more minutes.
17. Add the carrots and cook five more minutes.
18. Add the squash and then 2 cups of water. Season with 1 tsp salt.
19. When the water boils, add egg plant or cauliflower (if using).
20. Cover and cook for 45-60 on med-low heat.
21. Check back every ten minutes to stir and monitor water evaporation.
22. 10 minutes before it's done, add the green peas (if using).
23. When finished, add 1 tablespoon garam masala and stir.
24. Correct for salt and set aside -- or eat.

For the Bread

1. Add yeast, salt, sugar to the water.
2. After dissolved, add the flour and butter and knead into a ball.
3. Rest until at least doubled.
4. Shape into 8 equally sized balls.

Making the Curry Pan

1. Roll out the dough and stuff with 1 - 2 tablespoons of the curry.
2. Dip in beaten egg and panko.
3. Fry in 180C/350F until they are a nice shade of brown.