Nanny Chan's Mild Curry Puffs with a delicious mild spiced filling of ground meat wrapped in a flaky pastry. Great as a snack, appetizer, or party food! They're easy to make, freezer-friendly, and great for parties and to take along to pot lucks, picnics, or have in lunchboxes. Serve as party food, appetizers, or snacks when you're watching Superbowl even!

When I was a child growing up in Hong Kong, my grandmother also lived with us. She would make the most delicious foods, and this recipe for Nanny Chan's mild curry puffs is from her.
Although she is long gone now, her memory will live on, in many ways, one being through this delicious Mild Curry Puff Recipe.
The flavor is a gentle curry and coriander/cilantro flavor. It is not hot, nor is it particularly over spicy. The flavors are gentle and matched perfectly.
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As for the pastry, my Grandmother would make her own. Of course, back in the day, there was no such thing as buying ready-made let alone ready-rolled pastry. You just made it yourself!
In this recipe, I have made my own pastry, from my flaky pastry recipe. However, I have tried making these using shop-bought Puff Pastry and it works well. So you have options to make or to buy!
So let's get straight to the recipe and please enjoy Nanny Chan's Mild Curry Puffs!
Ingredients
The Pastry
8oz or 225g pack of ready made flaky or puff pastry.
I have used my own homemade flaky pie crust recipe. Don’t be frightened at the thought of making your own pastry! It’s a really simple recipe which you can find here. This amount of pastry will make you about 14 curry puffs.
If you have too much pastry, it will freeze nicely if wrapped in plastic wrap and a zip lock bag.
If you do decide to buy the pastry, I would suggest flaky or puff pastry, about a 225g / 8 oz pack.
The Filling
6 oz or 1 cup or 150 g Ground Beef
Handful of sweetcorn
¼ Red & Green Chili pepper (mild ones)
1cm thick ginger
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons Mild Curry Powder
A handful of coriander/cilantro
1 bay leaf (optional)
1 small white onion
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg (for egg wash)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Instructions
1. First, if you are making your own pastry, do that and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
2. Prepare all the ingredients. Finely chop everything.
3. Add the vegetable oil to a pan, and cook the onions, garlic & ginger until soft and the onions are clear in color. Do not brown them as you will end up with a bitter taste.
4. Add the curry powder and mix in well.
5. Add the ground beef and stir until cooked. Add the salt.
6. Add the sweetcorn and combine.

7. Take off heat and allow to cool. Say 20-30 minutes. If you try and add the filling on the pastry when it is hot, the pastry will melt!
When the filling has cooled, add the chopped coriander/cilantro.
8. Get your flaky pastry out of the fridge, roll the pastry out until 3-4 mm in thickness. You want to be able to cut roughly 12-14 pieces of 3-inch squares from your pastry.
Preheat your oven to 220C, Gas 7, 425F
9. Once rolled, use a sharp knife and cut squares, measuring 3 inches by 3 inches and place on a baking tray.
10. Use a spoon and place some filling in the middle of each square, be careful not to let any filling go on the edges.
At this point, you can freeze and simply carry on with step 11 when you are ready to use. So perfect for those who wish to make ahead.
11. Brush the edges with some beaten egg.
12. Fold the pastry over and use the back of a fork to push along the edges to seal. Please note you can make whatever shapes you want!
13. Use a sharp knife or scissors to make a little cross on the tops of all the puffs (to let the steam out and keep the pastry crispy)

14. Brush all over with beaten egg

15. Place in the oven for 15 minutes. or until golden brown.
When done, place on a cooling rack and eat when warm. They are nicer just warm than Piping hot!

Recipe Card

Nanny Chan’s Mild Curry Puffs
Nanny Chan's Mild Curry Puffs with a delicous mild spiced filling of ground meat wrapped in a flaky pastry. Great as a snack, appetizer or party food!
Ingredients
The Pastry
- 8oz or 225 g puff or flaky pastry
The Filling:
- 6 oz or 1 cup or 150 g Ground Beef
- Handful of sweetcorn
- ¼ Red & Green Chili pepper, mild ones
- 1 cm thick ginger
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons Mild Curry Powder
- Handful of coriander / cilantro
- 1 bay leaf, optional
- 1 small white onion
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, for egg wash
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- 1. First, if you are making your own pastry, do that and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- 2. Prepare all the ingredients. Finely chop everything.
- 3. Add the vegetable oil to a pan, and cook the onions, garlic & ginger until soft and the onions are clear in colour. Do not brown them as you will end up with a bitter taste.
- 4. Add the curry powder and mix in well.
- 5. Add the ground beef and stir until cooked. Add the salt.
- 6. Add the sweetcorn and combine.
- 7. Take off heat and allow to cool. Say 20-30 minutes. if you try and add the filling on the pastry when it is hot, the pastry will melt!
- When the filling has cooled, add the chopped coriander / cilantro.
- 8. Get your flaky pastry out of the fridge, roll the pastry out until 3-4 mm in thickness. You want to be able to cut roughly 12-14 pieces of 3 inch squares from your pastry.
- Preheat your oven to 220C, Gas 7, 425F
- 9. Once rolled, use a sharp knife and cut squares, measuring 3 inches by 3 inches and place on a baking tray.
- 10. Use a spoon and place some filling in the middle of each square, be careful not to let any filling go on the edges.
- 11. Brush the edges with some beaten egg.
- 12. Fold the pastry over and use the back of a fork to push along the edges to seal. Please note you can make whatever shapes you want!
- 13. Use a sharp knife or scissors to make a little cross on the tops of all the puffs (to let the steam out and keep the pastry crispy)
- 14. Brush all over with beaten egg
- 15. Place in the oven for 15 minutes. or until golden brown.
- When done, place on a cooling rack and eat when warm. They are nicer just warm than Piping hot!
Notes
I have used my own home made flaky pastry recipe. Don' be frightened at the thought of making your own pastry! It's a really simple recipe which you can find here. This amount of pastry will make you about 14 curry puffs.
If you have too much pastry, it will freeze nicely if wrapped plastic wrap and a zip lock bag.
oz If you do decide to buy the pastry, I would suggest flaky or puff pastry, about a 225g / 8 pack.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 132Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 171mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate
Easy Snacks For Parties
Here's a selection of easy snacks you can make for parties, celebrations, gamedays, potlucks and gatherings
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Spinach and Feta Galette, a delicious open pastry savory pie filled with Greek feta cheese creamy spinach and tomatoes, then baked until set. Great served warm or chilled.
Stuffed Potato Dumplings. A twist on the classic Swedish Kroppkakor dumplings, using leftover potatoes, stuffed with a choice of fillings, boiled & pan fried. Popular supper or party food.
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Easy Homemade Meatballs.
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Festive Jack Daniel's Stuffing Balls, a perfect snack, appetizer or side to your Thanksgiving or Christmas menu. Juicy pork, flavored with Jack Daniel's, cranberry and chestnuts to give you a lovely Festive feeling.
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Crispy Beer Battered Shrimp. Oh boy.. these are delicious! Light and crispy batter, don't forget the dip and be sure to make plenty cos once you start eating these you won't be able to stop!
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Best Ever Pico De Gallo, Salsa Fresca, a delicious Mexican salsa, quick and easy to make with refreshing flavors of lime, jalapenos, tomatoes, and cilantro. Absolutely delicious!
Spanish Meatballs in Garlic Tomato Sauce, Albondigas is a lovely easy dish typically served as Tapas in bars. Great for party food, main meals and appetizers!
Mojo Picante, Spanish Red Pepper Sauce.This is a lovely tasting sauce popular in the Canary Islands. Serve with Tapas, goes great with seafood, chicken, and pork.
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Tear and Share Pizza is a delicious recipe made using biscuit dough, mozzarella, pepperoni and pizza sauce. Simply tear a piece off and pass around with your friends and family
Homemade Chicken Croquettes, Small patties of creamy, buttery chicken-filled bites, coated in crispy breadcrumbs then fried. A popular Spanish Tapas dish
Lisa
says:This just popped up on my Pinterest feed and my mouth is watering. I am an old lady now, but my childhood was spent in India. My father was a civil engineer with the U.S. State Department and he built large hydroelectric dams. Because it takes years to complete projects like that, we didn’t keep moving like most families. India made a lasting imprint on my soul. These puffs look so delicious. They are on tomorrow’s menu. Thank you for posting this.
Jann
says:Looks so yummy!mi want to make it but I just can make pastry. What store bought pastry would work? Pi pastry or puff pastry or something else? Thank you! Anxious to try!
Lovefoodies
says:Hi Jann, sure! I often use ready made PUFF pastry when I’m in a rush. It’s delicious!
Gen Olanigan
says:When you cook the ground beef do you drain out the fat or keep it in?
Lovefoodies
says:Hi Gen, you need to drain it so the pastries will be nice and crispy.
Gen Olanigan
says:Thanks so much! It didnt say to so I wasnt sure. Cant wait to try this recipe :)
Djams Doux
says:I need to make this, looks like “samosa”. Now, I’m craving this lol! ;D
Anastasia
says:I would like to make theses ahead of time. Are they able to be prepared ahead and frozen? If so, should I freeze prior to cooking the. or after? Many thanks for any advice!
Lovefoodies
says:Hi Anastasia, I always make a batch for freezing and what I find best is to freeze them before baking, WITHOUT the egg wash, then when you are ready to bake, simply pop them on the baking sheet, brush with egg wash and then bake at the stated time. You can do them straight from frozen or defrost at room temperature. Either way will be absolutely fine. If you do decide you want to freeze AFTER baking, the only difference you will find is the pastry wont be as crisp so you can reheat in the oven to warm them through and get the pastry back to crispy, but the first option of freezing before baking is the best in my opinion!
Hope that helps, and please do enjoy!
Robyn Gleason
says:I’m definitely going to make this recipe. I love that you can change up the ingredients to suit everyone’s preferences. A fun dish to get the kids helping and learning in the kitchen as well. Looking forward to making this!
lovefoodies
says:Thanks Robyn! You can certainly swap the ingredients very well with this. Your kids will have fun! I used to help my gran make these, and I liked doing the bit with the fork at the end the most. I used to think that was like ‘magic’ haha!!
Chef Mireille
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