Coronation Pies Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a small frying pan. Cook the onion in the oil until soft, about 5 mins, then stir in the curry powder and cook for 1 min more. Scrape into a mixing bowl and stir in the mango chutney, followed by the chicken and soured cream, then season.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut 24 strips of baking parchment as wide as the base of your muffin tin and grease one side with a little butter to help them stay in place. Criss-cross 2 into each hole of a 12-hole muffin tin so the edges of the strips stick out - this will help you remove the pies easily once cooked. Thinly roll out three-quarters of the pastry on a lightly floured surface. Stamp out 12 circles big enough to line the holes generously, with a little pastry overhang at the top for sealing.
• Divide the chicken filling between the pies. Roll out remaining pastry and cut 12 lids. Top each pie with a pastry lid, press together the edges to seal and roll down any excess pastry to make a lipped-edge. Brush the tops with more beaten egg and scatter with almonds. Poke a fork in each to let the steam out while they cook and bake for 20-25 mins or until golden and cooked through.

Steps:

• Tip the chicken into a bowl with the turmeric, ginger, cumin seeds, korma paste and pinch of salt. Mix well. Leave to marinate for a few hours, or overnight (if marinating overnight, cover and chill).
• Tip the marinated chicken into a medium saucepan and pour over the coconut milk. Stir, bring to a simmer over a low heat and cook for 40 mins until very tender (it should be falling apart). Leave to cool.
• Meanwhile, tip the spinach into a colander and pour over a kettleful of boiled water until wilted. Leave to cool, then squeeze out as much water as you can and roughly chop. Roughly shred the chicken into the sauce in the pan, then stir through the chopped spinach, dried mango and raisins to make a loose filling. Can be made a day ahead.
• Roughly halve the puff pastry, but make sure one half is slightly bigger. Roll the smaller half out onto a floured surface to a circle about 25cm in diameter, then transfer to a baking tray. Pile the filling into the middle of the pastry circle, leaving a border around the edge. Brush the border with a little of the beaten egg. Roll out the remaining pastry half to a circle about 30cm in diameter. Drape this over the filling, pressing or crimping the edges to seal. Chill for at least 20 mins. At this stage, the pie can be covered and kept chilled overnight.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Gently score a criss-cross pattern over the top of the pie using a sharp knife, then brush all over with more of the beaten egg. Bake for 20 mins, then remove from the oven, brush with the rest of the egg, and sprinkle over the seed and almond mixture and a little sea salt. Bake for 20 mins more, or until the pie is deep golden and the almonds are toasted. While the pie bakes, combine the dressing ingredients.
• Leave the pie to cool, then cut into wedges and serve with the yogurt dressing and some chutney, if using.

Steps:

• For the pastry, tip the flour into a large bowl and stir in ½ tsp salt. Grate in the cold butter and lard. Gently combine with your hands. Swiftly mix in 250ml ice-cold water using a cutlery knife. Tip the dough onto a surface and knead for 1 min until smooth. Wrap and chill for at least 1 hr.
• To make the filling, heat the butter in a flameproof casserole or large frying pan over a medium-low heat and fry the onions for 10-12 mins until softened and starting to caramelise. Add the chicken and cook for 5 mins more. Stir in the korma paste, curry powder and flour, turn up the heat to medium and fry for another 2 mins. Stir in the stock gradually, in several additions, then simmer for 3 mins until the mixture has thickened. Stir in the cream and mango chutney. Leave to cool completely. Once the mixture is completely cool, cover and chill for at least 3 hrs or overnight.
• Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Divide the chilled pastry into six pieces, weighing for accuracy, if you like. Form each piece into a ball, then roll each one out on a lightly floured surface to a 20cm circle. Working with one pastry circle at a time, spoon a sixth of the filling into the middle of the circle. Wet the edge around half the circle, then fold over to the dry edge and crimp using your fingers or a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining filling and pastry circles, placing them on the baking sheets as you go. Chill for 1 hr.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Brush the pasties with the beaten egg and bake for 50 mins-1 hr, or until golden. Leave to cool for 10 mins, then eat hot, or cool completely to pack for a picnic. Will keep chilled in an airtight container for up to two days.