Name: Cafeteria Style Karipap (Curry Puffs)
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 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)); 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)

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.

Cafeteria Style Karipap with Blistered Crust

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.

What Caused the Blisters?

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.

Inexpensive Snack

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.

Similar Products Used in Making These Cafeteria Style Karipap

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Staub Serving Bowl, White, 3.4 qt.
Winco Strainer with Double Fine Mesh, 8-Inch Diameter
Babas Curry Powder (Meat Curry) – 8oz (Pack of 3)