Red Bean Curry Pie (similar to Rajma Masala)

Today is Pi day, and our contest required a pie that was not a standard dessert pie.  This is my imitation of Rajma Masala, stuffed under a puffed pastry shell.  Due to the stock I used, this is not a vegetarian dish like a standard Rajma Masala.  Apologies to my vegetarian coworkers, but I wanted some extra flavor.

I don't have as many pictures as normal, but I was in a hurry to get this thing done before the pie judging started.

Cooked pie

Ingredients

Collection of ingredients

• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 2 inch piece of ginger, chopped
• 2 spicy green peppers, seeded and chopped - I used serrano peppers.  If you need more spice, increase the red peppers, not the green ones, a bitter taste will develop.
• a few dry red peppers - I used about 8 "Chile Pequin Entero" peppers (these are tiny) from the Latino section of the store
• 3-5 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 can diced tomatoes - 3-4 average chopped whole tomatoes could work
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp coriander seeds
• 2 tsp garam masala
• 2 tsp curry powder - use up to 1 1/2 tbsp if you like
• 2 cups chicken stock (or water)
• salt to taste (~1/2 tsp, more if not using stock)
• 2 tbsp flour for thickening
• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed for about 30-40 minutes or until flexible.  This should still be cold just before cooking it
• 1-2 tsp oil - I used olive oil

Chopped ginger and serrano peppers

Directions

Onions, garlic, ginger, coriander, peppers

• Cook onion in oil until mostly soft (about 4 minutes).
• Add coriander seeds, cook until fragrant (about 2 minutes).
• Add garlic, ginger, and spicy peppers.  Cook for a few minutes.
• Add cumin, garam masala, cumin.  Stir well.
• Add beans, tomatoes, stock (or water).  Cook for about 5 minutes.
• Mix flour equally with water to make a paste (prevents lumps), add to pot and cook for at least 5 minutes to break down the starches
• Pour cooked mixture into pie pan
• Top with puff pastry, slit top slightly (it will partially seal)
• Place on cookie sheet to prevent drips.  I used foil, since that is all that will fit in the toaster oven.
• Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes, rotating as needed for even browning.

What would I do differently?

• This really could have used more beans and spicy peppers.  Since I already blew the vegetarian bit, I could have added a bit of chicken to it.

How did it do?  

• Well, it didn't come in last, but nearly so.  Doesn't bother me one bit, since I cook food for myself, and this wasn't too bad.  Everyone else can just starve if they don't like it. ;)