Cafeteria Style Karipap (Curry Puffs)

These Malaysian Cafeteria Style Karipap (Curry Puffs) with blistered crust and curried potato filling make a delicious snack or tea time treat.

Hold on to you hats, folks! Here are the canteen or Cafeteria Style Karipap (Curry Puffs) you have been waiting for. If you are no idea of what I am talking about, please check out this other Karipap post. For the rest of you who have been following the narrative, especially on my Facebook Page, let’s get rolling!

Most people familiar with Malaysian snack foods will tell you that the Malay style curry puffs, fondly known as Karipap usually (but not always) comes with a blistered crust. This does not mean the other is not tasty. On the contrary as stated in my previous post, the smooth crust Karipap had a richer flavor and more flaky pastry. This was confirmed by my taste testers.

However, if appearance and nostalgia is important to you, then you may like today’s recipe a little better. The pastry is lighter and just a wee bit crunchier. To be honest with you, I was a little torn myself if I had to choose. In the end, it is a matter of preference. The good thing is that, I have both recipes here for you and you can decide for yourself which one you prefer. Do let me know your preference once you have had the chance to try both recipes.

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So, what made today’s Cafeteria Style Karipap (Curry Puffs) pastry blister? It is not a longer frying time as suggested by some. It is actually non other than the one simple ingredient known as WATER! Remember, water sputters when it meets hot oil and that sputtering is what causes the pastry to blister. When these curry puffs were frying in the pan, you can definitely hear the sputtering and fizzing in the hot oil. Hence, the texture is discernibly crunchier.

In this recipe, all other ingredients for the crust remained the same as the previous recipe. I simply halved the amount of margarine used and made it up by adding sufficient water to knead the dough into a smooth ball. It was a success! I was happy it turned out so beautifully on my very first try. The pastry blistered evenly when the curry puffs were deep frying.

These Karipap were relatively inexpensive snacks and the makciks (aunties) who made them had to find a way to keep the cost down. Using less margarine and more water would work for the pastry. As for the filling, sweet potatoes were used instead of regular potatoes. Back then sweet potatoes cost less than regular potatoes.

This time round, I flavored the potatoes with ku chai (Chinese chives) instead of cilantro. All other ingredients remain the same. There wasn’t a whole lot of difference between the two. One other option as mentioned in my previous post, is to use Chinese celery which has a stronger flavor than regular celery. The choice is yours but either way, you can’t go wrong.

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Cafeteria Style Karipap (Curry Puffs)

Prep Time

50 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Total Time

1 hr 30 mins

 

These Malaysian Cafeteria Style Karipap (Curry Puffs) with blistered crust and curried potato filling make a delicious snack or tea time treat.

Course: Snack

Cuisine: Malaysian

Servings: 10

Calories: 262 kcal

Author: Linda Ooi

Ingredients

Filling

• 3 small potatoes (9 oz/225g)
• 1 small sweet potato (8oz/225g)
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion (diced)
• 3 tbsp curry powder
• ¼ cup water (60ml)
• Salt to taste
• ½ cup Chinese chives (chopped) (25g)

Blistered Crust

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (300g)
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup margarine (56g)
• 2/3 cup cold water (160ml)
• Sufficient vegetable oil for deep frying

Instructions

Filling

1. Boil scrubbed potatoes and sweet potato in medium saucepan. After 15 minutes, remove potatoes. Allow sweet potato to cook for another 5 minutes. Remove and allow potatoes to cool. Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a fry pan over medium heat. Saute onion for 1 minute. Add curry powder and continue to stir for 2 minutes until curry powder is fragrant.
3. Add cubed potatoes and sweet potato. Stir to coat potatoes with spices. Pour in water and season with salt. Add chopped Chinese chives and continue to stir to get everything well mixed.
   
4. Turn off stove. Transfer to a bowl and allow filling to cool.

Blistered Crust

1. Combine all-purpose flour, salt, and margarine in a large bowl. Mix with a spatula. Slowly add water a little at a time. Knead to form a soft, non-sticky dough. You may or may not require the full 2/3 cup (160ml) water.
2. Continue to knead the dough in the bowl or on a clean work surface for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth. Form dough into a ball and place it back into the bowl. Cover with a towel and allow dough to rest for 15 minutes.
3. Remove dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Using a 3½ to 4 inch diameter lid or bowl, cut out as many circles as possible. Knead the edges back into a ball. Roll it out and cut more circles until all dough is used up.

Forming the Karipap

1. Place a piece of dough on your palm. If it has shrunk a little, spread it out gently with your fingers. Place a tablespoon of filling in the center.
2. Fold the dough into a semi circle. Seal by pressing and pleating the edges together. Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.

Frying the Karipap

1. Heat about an inch of vegetable oil in a saucepan.
2. Deep fry karipap over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Remove and allow karipap to drain in a metal strainer.
3. Note: To make ahead, shape karipap and store in the refrigerator the day before. Deep fry the next day when ready to eat.

Recipe Notes

To make ahead, shape karipap and store in the refrigerator the day before. Deep fry the next day when ready to eat.

Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎